American Express: Why Scottie Scheffler is going to win this week

The PGA Tour heads to the American Express this week in Palm Desert, and Scottie Scheffler is going to win.

Whenever I am taking a look at a tournament, I like to look at someone who has had previous success when I am picking someone to win. It’s going to be no different this week at the American Express, which is why I am going with Scottie Scheffler.

With Scheffler, sometimes it seems like a majority of golf fandom forgets that he is a part of the young class of golfers that is coming up right now. He is just 24, and last year was his first full season on the PGA Tour. Yet, as we head to Palm Desert, there is an interesting stat relating to how strong he has been playing.

When you take a look at the entire field of the American Express, Russell Henley is the only one to best Scottie Scheffler from tee to green since golf resumed last year.

Pairing the fact that Scheffler has been playing better golf than most people on Tour, and nearly everyone that is in the field this week, with his third-place finish at the event last year is a tasty combination. If not for a final round 70 that caused him to lose by three strokes, Scheffler would look even better this year. Pretty nice to know that you could’ve shot 67 on a course that is easy to score at, still have it be your worst score of the week by a shot, and tie for the lead.

This is only going to be his second time playing at the American Express (the entire tournament itself, not just the current name iteration) and I think that is going to be a benefit for him. He has no bad memories of the course and is going to want to come in and make up for his “poor” final round. We know he can go crazy low too. At a course that scores easy, don’t be surprised to see someone flirt with 60.

There are plenty of young golfers on the PGA Tour who have yet to find their first win. After this week, Scottie Scheffler is no longer going to be on that list, and he is going to win the American Express.