2025 American Express odds, predictions: Top picks, best bets, longshots to back at this week's PGA Tour event

The PGA Tour begins its West Coast Swing this week at the 2025 American Express, which gets underway on Thursday, Jan. 16. Marking the first stop on the PGA Tour's conquest across the continental United States, the American Express will feature a full field of 156 players and some of the top names in the game. The first round is set to get underway on Thursday at 11:30 a.m. ET.

While world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler was scheduled to return to action this week, the reigning PGA Tour Player of the Year withdrew and will instead chart his return for the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in two weeks. World No. 2 Xander Schauffele also withdrew from The American Express field on Monday.

Justin Thomas will seek his first victory since the 2022 PGA Championship. The 15-time winner nearly added No. 16 to his résumé at this tournament a year ago but was upended by amateur Nick Dunlap who is set to make a title defense. Thomas is among the betting favorites according to the latest 2025 American Express odds at 12-1 (risk $100 to win $1,200). 

Sungjae Im, Sam Burns and Patrick Cantlay are among those who finished inside the top 15 at the Sentry and make their second starts of the season. Tom Kim, Wyndham Clark, Tony Finau, Si Woo Kim, Max Greyserman and Cameron Young round out the notables in the field.

Before locking in any 2025 American Express picks, make sure you see the PGA Tour predictions and best bets from golf insider Patrick McDonald.

McDonald joined CBS Sports as a golf writer in 2022 after stops at NBC Sports and RyderCup.com. Covering the sport from a broader perspective, McDonald still likes to dip his toes into the betting pools on a weekly basis between the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and more. Featured weekly on the Early Wedge, he gave out numerous winners in 2024, including Jake Knapp (50-1) at the Mexico Open and Xander Schauffele (20-1) at the PGA Championship. Anyone who followed his lead could have been WAY UP!

Now, McDonald has been digging into the 2025 American Express field to find the best betting value and just locked in his best bets and longshots to back. 

This week, McDonald loves the value of Sam Burns. "Burns had a great chance to win this tournament in 2024 before his ball striking abandoned him down the stretch," McDonald told SportsLine. "He comes into this year's tournament much steadier in that area of the bag and with his typically reliable putter in tow. He has four top-20 finishes in five appearances, is fresh off a top-10 finish at Kapalua and can more than keep up in a low-scoring affair."

Moreover, McDonald is jumping on several underdogs, including one longshot who's priced at more than 60-1. This player "will largely depend on the putter, but it has been good in four trips to Palm Springs" and is a longshot who could surprise. If he does, you could cash in HUGE. You need to see who it is before locking in any 2025 American Express picks of your own.

So which 2025 American Express players should you target, and which surprising longshot could bring a MASSIVE payday? ... Join SportsLine right now to see Patrick McDonald's best value picks!