Sepp Straka returns to winner's circle at The American Express

Austria's Sepp Straka shot a final-round 2-under-par 70 and didn't allow a rare blotch on the scorecard to derail him on the way to winning The American Express on Sunday at the PGA West Pete Dye Stadium Course in La Quinta, Calif.

Straka finished at 25-under 263 for a two-shot victory.

Straka, who didn't have a bogey in the tournament until Sunday's 16th hole, won for the third time on the PGA Tour and for the first time since the 2023 John Deere Classic.

The 31-year-old also bogeyed the last hole, but runner-up Justin Thomas (66) had finished at 23 under about an hour earlier.

Justin Lower (69) and Australia's Jason Day (69) tied for third place at 22 under.

Straka played the first seven holes in 3 under, so that kept him firmly in control.

Thomas became a serious contender by going 6 under through 11 holes before logging pars the rest of the way.

Second-round co-leader Charley Hoffman's bid to make a charge was dampened by putting two balls into the water on No. 13. The triple-bogey sent him from second place to a tie for fifth after playing the first eight holes in 4 under followed by four pars.

Hoffman (71) tied with Patrick Cantlay (70) for fifth place at 20 under.

Colombia's Camilo Villegas (66) joined Taylor Moore (68), Ben Griffin (68) and Max Greyserman (69) in seventh place at 19 under.

The best score of the round came from Alex Smalley with a 65. He placed 11th at 18 under.

Norway's Kris Ventura had a hole-in-one on the 208-yard, par-3 13th, which was his fourth hole of the round. He posted 71, with double-bogeys on two par-3 holes. He tied for 58th place at 10 under.

--Field Level Media