Five players were within just one shot of the lead down the stretch on the back nine during Sunday’s final round of the 2023 American Express, setting up for a thrilling finish in the desert.
After being deadlocked with Davis Thompson for most of the afternoon, Jon Rahm took the late lead with a birdie on the par-5 16th and ultimately held on for the win at 27 under at PGA West’s Pete Dye Stadium Course. Rahm shot a 4-under 68 in the final round to earn his ninth PGA Tour win and fourth win in his last six starts.
In three starts this season on Tour, Rahm has finished T-4, T-8 and first at the season-opening Sentry Tournament of Champions two weeks ago in Hawaii. The 2018 American Express champion also now has seven straight top-8 finishes.
Thompson, a PGA Tour rookie via the Korn Ferry Tour, finished second at 26 under. In six starts so far this season, the Georgia grad has made five cuts and finished inside the top 25 twice at the Fortinet Championship and Shriners Children’s Open. Xander Schauffele, who made a rare albatross on Sunday, shot a final-round 10-under 62 to finish third at 25 under with Chris Kirk.