Is it mid-January already? The 2025 golf season is officially underway and the lineup of tours to kick off the year is nothing short of interesting. As we gear up for possibly an unforgettable season, The American Express Tournament is setting the stage by releasing the tee times for the first three rounds, and believe me, this is going to be a starry event from the very first swing.

Dated to commence on January 16 in La Quinta, California, the tour is stacked with 156 golfers. Per day, each pairing will include two amateurs playing alongside pros. The anticipation is palpable with top players and a few fresh faces in the mix.

The first three rounds will start with Ryo Hisatsune and Matthias Schmid, two young, international players with the potential to make a splash at the Nicklaus Tournament Course. Lanto Griffin and Bud Cauley at the Dye Stadium and the pairing of Max Greyserman and Kevin Streelman at La Quinta will tee off alongside.

Wyndham Clark and Rickie Fowler are some of the threats to watch out for this year. For the first tee round, Patrick Cantlay is paired with Billy Horschel and the grouping will tee off on La Quinta’s greens at 9:14 a.m. The former maintains a calculated approach while Horschel is a consistent PGA TOUR record holder. A tough match ahead.

Loaded with long golfing tenures, this format further serves ample scope for strong and young contenders like Cameron Young to shine. Speaking of promising fresh talent, Blades Brown is making his professional debut at the age of 17. The list of newcomers-turned-pros is incomplete without the defending champion. Fans are holding high hopes for Nick Dunlap, who cemented his throne in 2024 after winning the PGA Tour as an amateur. He had finished the tournament at 26-under par with sinking key birdies on the back nine. At just 20 years old, the lad had delivered spontaneous putting under pressure to be an avid hurdle this year.

Few prominent names like Denny McCarthy and Xander Schauffele, who are facing a health issue, will keep their supporters waiting. Scottie Scheffler will also be missing the 2025 Desert Classic due to an injury.

When to catch the American Express Tournament 2025?

For every fan, there is a platform to plug in for a special pro-am showdown. These four thrilling days of live broadcasts will be available on multiple devices. For television viewers, the tournament will stream from Thursday to Sunday, between 4 to 7 p.m. on Golf Channel. Other platforms are notably ESPN+, radio on SiriusXM, and live audio on PGATOUR.COM/liveaudio.

Amid our viewing differences, we can agree that La Quinta is often said to be the most forgiving of the three courses in the tournament rotation. The unique challenges of different courses can set a critical tone for the overall mix of rising stars and experienced talents. Impact in the first three rounds will prove strong for making the cut and setting up a competitive weekend.