American Express highlights: Sepp Straka plays nearly flawless golf, picks up 3rd Tour win

Posted by author January 19, 2025 Golf

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Sepp Straka played almost flawless golf in picking up the third win of his PGA Tour career.

The Austrian was brilliant all week at the 2025 American Express, signing for 25-under 263 and winning by two shots over Justin Thomas. Straka didn’t have a bogey all week until the par-5 16th on Sunday, and he added another on the closing 18th, but it didn’t matter because of the work he did the first 69 holes of the American Express.

Straka shot 2-under 70 on Sunday at PGA West’s Stadium Course while Thomas carded a 6-under 66.

Below is a recap of the final round, including highlights and top moments from the final round in the desert.

American Express leaderboard

Keep tabs on the live scoring with this leaderboard at the American Express.

Don’t forget, there’s more than one island green on the PGA Tour. Also a Pete Dye gem, the 17th at PGA West’s Stadium Course is always a fun hole, and Straka found the center of the green before tapping in. Three up heading to the last hole.

It finally happened. Sepp Straka goes 69 holes without making a bogey, but it comes on the par-5 16th after a wayward approach shot leads to a length par putt, which he can’t convert. He falls back to 26 under and has a three-shot lead with two holes to play.

One bogey-free week is in the books. Taylor Moore played 72 holes without a bogey, signing for 19-under 269. He’s the first player since Joaquin Niemann at the 2021 Rocket Mortgage Classic to play 72 holes with no bogey or worse and not win.

This one is all but over. Sepp Straka birdies the par-3 13th, and he’s closing in on PGA Tour win No. 3.

Can Straka become the first player since Tom Kim at the 2022 Shriners Children’s Open to win without having a bogey all week? He’s on the verge of doing just that.

Sepp Straka is three shots ahead with seven holes to play, but Justin Thomas and Jason Day are among those three shots back and lurking.

Sepp Straka is creeping closer to the win, but Charley Hoffman is only three back heading to the back nine. He was nearly two behind but his birdie putt on the ninth narrowly missed dropping in the cup.

Because of how well Sepp Straka is playing, it might not matter, but Justin Thomas had five birdies on the front nine and is at 22 under, but he remains four back of the lead.

Sepp Straka can do no wrong. He hasn’t made a bogey all week, but on the seventh he hit his approach to 6 feet and made the birdie putt. Lead is back to four with 11 to play.

Sepp Straka came into the final round with a four-shot lead, and with 13 holes to go, that’s down to three. Charley Hoffman is 3 under in his first five holes and has crept ever so closer to Straka.

Another great start for a rookie on Sunday, as Kris Ventura made an ace on the par-3 13th.

PGA Tour pros make mistakes, too. But it’s often times their abilities to correct their mistakes as a major difference between them and amateurs. Look no further than when Ben Griffin topped his approach shot, leaving him 119 yards for his third. What did he do? You guessed it.

Sepp Straka, Charley Hoffman and Jason Day are all on the course, and they’re all off to excellent starts, making birdie on the first hole. Straka is up to 24 under and maintains his four-shot lead.

Could he make a run? Justin Thomas started the final round six shots behind, but on his opening two holes, he has made a pair of birdies to move to 19 under and four shots behind Straka as the leader tees off.

PGA Tour rookie Matthew Riedel got off to a great start Sunday, holing out for eagle on his opening hole.

American Express 2025 Sunday tee times

All times ET.

11:49 a.m.: Lanto Griffin, Joe Highsmith, Ricky Castillo

12:00 p.m.: Mackenzie Hughes, Vincent Norrman, Jeremy Paul

12:11 p.m.: Harry Hall, Sam Ryder, Nick Taylor

12:22 p.m.: Camilo Villegas, Kevin Roy, Cam Davis

12:33 p.m.: Ryan Palmer, Doug Ghim, Carson Young

12:44 p.m.: Harry Higgs, Rico Hoey, Rickie Fowler

12:55 p.m.: Billy Horschel, Keith Mitchell, J.T. Poston

1:06 p.m.: Taylor Moore, Ben Griffin, Will Zalatoris

1:17 p.m.: Frankie Capan III, Beau Hossler, J.J. Spaun

1:28 p.m.: Justin Thomas, Max Greyserman, Daniel Berger

1:39 p.m.: Justin Lower, Patrick Cantlay, Mark Hubbard

1:50 p.m.: Sepp Straka, Charley Hoffman, Jason Day

Tee 10

11:49 a.m.: Matt Kuchar, Matthew Riedel, Sam Stevens

12:00 p.m.: Quade Cummins, Alex Smalley, Lee Hodges

12:11 p.m.: Jacob Bridgeman, Trey Mullinax, Brandt Snedeker

12:22 p.m.: Victor Perez, Si Woo Kim, Kurt Kitayama

12:33 p.m.: Michael Kim, Tom Hoge, Brian Campbell

12:44 p.m.: Ryo Hisatsune, Ryan Gerard, Taylor Montgomery

12:55 p.m.: Davis Thompson, Matteo Manassero, Rikuya Hoshino

1:06 p.m.: Eric Cole, Chez Reavie, Vince Whaley

1:17 p.m.: Patrick Rodgers, Kris Ventura, Will Gordon

1:28 p.m.: Harris English, Mac Meissner, Alejandro Tosti

1:39 p.m.: Nick Dunlap, Sam Burns, Ben Kohles

1:50 p.m.: Chris Kirk, Brice Garnett

The 54-hole cut came Saturday night and quite a few big names were sent packing, including Tony Finau, Wyndham Clark and Brian Harman.

Golf Channel will carry live coverage of the weekend rounds of the American Express, as will ESPN+

You can watch Golf Channel for free on fubo. You can get Peacock here and ESPN+ here.

Sunday, Jan. 19

Golf Channel: 4-7 p.m. ET

ESPN+: 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m.

The American Express holds a unique distinction on the PGA Tour: It’s the only event that is played on three golf courses.

The tournament is played on the Pete Dye Stadium Course at PGA West, the Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course at PGA West and La Quinta Country Club. Golfers play one round at each of the three for the first three rounds, then after the 54-hole cut the final round is on the Stadium Course.