The American Express · Derived from round-level strokes gained, 2022–2023–2024–2025 · ~69 players per field
Across 4 recent editions (2022, 2023, 2024, 2025), the players who finished top-10 at Nicklaus Tournament Course separated from the field most through approach play (36% of the total separation), with putting second at 29%. Off the tee mattered least — 14% — which is worth knowing when the broadcast narrative says otherwise.
The winners tell their own version: in 3 of the last 4 editions, the champion's best category for the week was putting. That differs from what separates the whole top-10 (approach play) — winning weeks are outlier weeks, usually powered by a hot week in one skill on top of the baseline the course demands.
Course notes: La Quinta/PGA West — scoring event, putting premium on bermuda.
Strokes gained per round for each recent champion, by category. The green number is that winner's best skill for the week.
| Year | Winner | To Par | OTT | APP | ARG | PUTT | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Sepp Straka | -25 | +0.34 | +0.59 | +0.22 | +0.95 | +4.07 |
| 2024 | Nick Dunlap | -29 | -0.16 | +0.50 | -0.25 | +0.73 | +3.99 |
| 2023 | Jon Rahm | -27 | +0.42 | +1.01 | +0.15 | -0.56 | +3.69 |
| 2022 | Hudson Swafford | -23 | -0.10 | +1.08 | +0.22 | +1.60 | +3.56 |
Every tournament week we score the full field against the venue's weights. The free pick lands Wednesday — by email, before tee times.
More: all course profiles · live tournament stats · the research series