2024 The American Express: Top 10 power rankings in Palm Springs

Sungjae Im is a top-20 machine at The American Express.

In fact, he never finished worse than T-12th in his first four visits until he dipped slightly to T-18th last year.

He shared his thoughts a few years ago about what he liked about this tournament in an ASAP Sports transcription.

"I feel comfortable playing at the American Express and visually from the tee box it's a course that I really like and enjoy to play, so I feel really comfortable throughout the round and the two courses that we're playing this week, I like those courses and that's what led me to a good score."

- Sungjae Im

Im debuted in Palm Springs in 2019 and took T-12th. He peaked with T-10th in 2020, followed by T-12th in 2021, and T-11th in 2022.

Last year, the South Korean was in contention through two rounds with 7-under 65 at Nicklaus and 6-under 66 at Stadium. Im still played well on the weekend, but he needed to keep up that same pace if he was going to win. He finished with 4-under 68 at La Quinta and 3-under Sunday at Stadium.

Im was 12th in the field in Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee (1.752) and 13th in SG: Around-the-Green (1.465).

The 25-year-old (how is he still just 25??) comes to California on a week of rest after opening 2024 with T-5th at The Sentry.

It was his seventh straight top-21 finish dating back to August.

Im gained strokes in every category last season on the PGA Tour. The knock on him is he’s only got two career PGA Tour wins. What he lacks in trophies he makes up for with consistency. Im was 13th in SG: Total (1.049) and 17th in SG: Around-the-Green (.279).

There can be some tricky bunker shots in play this week. Im was fourth in sand save percentage (61.9%). He was also 26th in birdie average (4.13).