Straka’s round at La Quinta in many ways was the reverse of what might have been expected. Playing the back nine first, Straka made six birdies on the way to a 30, the kind of score generally associated with the front nine at the course that opened in 1959.

The American Express field features eight of the world’s top 25-ranked golfers but will miss out on Nos. 1 and 2 after each withdrew.

Charley Hoffman and Rico Hoey both shot 9-under 63 on the Nicklaus Tournament Course to share the lead Friday after two rounds at The American Express. Hoffman and Hoey were at 16-under 128 midway through this three-course tournament in the Coachella Valley desert,

Justin Thomas, Patrick Cantlay and Nick Dunlap Compete at The American Express at PGA West in La Quinta, Calif., – Thursday-Sunday Coverage on GOLF Channel Begins at 4 p.m. ET

LA QUINTA – The last two times Sepp Straka played in The American Express, a 23-under score – somebody else’s – won the tournament. Is it his turn this time?

Straka shot 8-under-par 64 for the second day in a row to surge to the lead on Saturday at La Quinta Country Club in La Quinta, Calif. He's at 23 under and will take a four-stroke lead to Sunday's final round on Pete Day Stadium Course.

Sepp Straka has a four-stroke lead after the third round of the American Express. Straka shot a 64 at the La Quinta Country Club to put him over Charley Hoffman, Jason Day, and Justin Lower, who are all tied in second at 19-under.

The pro-am begins Thursday, with 156 pros playing with 156 amateurs on three desert courses -- the Pete Dye Stadium Course and Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course at PGA West and La Quinta Country Club. Here's our look at 10 players to watch when play begins Thursday:

Sepp Straka shot an eight-under 64 on Saturday in his third straight bogey-free round; Austrian has four-shot lead over Charley Hoffman, Jason Day and Justin Lower; watch the final round of the American Express,

After reaching 11-under par with birdies on three of his first five holes Saturday and sitting well inside the cut line, Brown stumbled with three bogeys and a double bogey in his final 13 holes. The double bogey came when he put his tee shot in the water on the infamous par-3 17th with its island green.

First-round leader odds for the American Express golf tournament: Patrick Cantlay 14:1, Keith Mitchell 28:1, Taylor Montgomery 45:1 across three courses.