American Express: The History of a Tournament with many names

The American Express is next on the docket for the PGA Tour. If you are unfamiliar with the name, don’t despair. It has had more name changes than you know.

If, like me, you may have looked at the PGA Tour schedule with a bit of confusion. “The American Express? I’m not familiar with that tournament.” It’s something that is likely being thought by golf fans around the country.

In the last ten years, this tournament has had five different names alone. It can be a bit confusing to remember what it used to be called, where it’s played, or who has won the event in the past. I wanted to help clear it up a bit to make things a bit easier. Maybe they could change the tournament to the faceless men since no one can remember the name anyway.

2020 is the first year that the tournament is going to be called The American Express. They also have a new host, as Phil Mickelson will have that role for the first time. It also saw a nice bump in winnings, up 800K from last year when Adam Long won.

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However, when he won, it was called the Desert Classic. Once again, that might not ring a bell. That is because it was only called that in 2019.

From 2016-2018, it was called the CareerBuilder Challenge. Since 2016, it has been played on the same set of courses, at the PGA West Stadium, the PGA West Tournament, and the La Quinta Country Club. This has long been an event that plays on multiple courses during a single tournament, with three being the number.

For the four years prior, 2012-2015, it had a different name once again and played on some different courses as well. The PGA West courses have slightly different names, being called the PGA West Palmer and PGA West Nicklaus. It is still played at the La Quinta. The tournament is called the Humana Challenge during this four-year stretch.

Once we get back to 2011, you likely recognize the tournament. It’s the Bob Hope Classic from 2009-2011, and 2011 is the last year that it is played as a five-round 90 hole event. Four of the rounds involved celebrities, causing the rounds to take much longer.

From 1965-2011, it was some version of the Bob Hope Classic, and always five rounds. This is what made it stand out from any other event, and was quite popular as well. Celebrities, Presidents, and famous musicians all teed up from time to time.

From 1986-2008, it was the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic. From 1984-1985, it was just the Bob Hope Classic. From 1965-1983, it was the Bob Hope Desert Classic. 1965 is when Bob Hope took over as the host of the event, turning it into the impressive display it would become for nearly 50 years. Even after his passing in 2003, the tournament remained the Bob Hope until 2012, when it dropped down to the standard four rounds.

Not to leave out the origination of the tournament, it started in 1960 as the Palm Springs Desert Golf Classic. It was shortened to the Palm Springs Golf Classic from 1961-1964, and Hope would take over in 1965.

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The American Express has had many names (10) and has been played at even more courses (13). This makes it five straight years that the event has been played on the same set of courses. If we can get a name locked down, it will be a lot easier for people to remember just exactly what this tournament is.

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