Scottie Scheffler dominated the 2026 American Express, winning by four shots at 27 under par to secure his 20th PGA Tour victory. The World No. 1 joined Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus as the only players to reach 20 wins and four majors before age 30, while his earnings surpassed $100 million. In the final round, 18-year-old Blades Brown played alongside Scheffler, finishing tied for 18th and gaining valuable lessons from the champion.
Scottie Scheffler began his 2026 season with a commanding performance at the American Express in La Quinta, California, pulling away from the field on Sunday to finish at 27 under par. He closed with a six-under 66, featuring seven birdies, though a double bogey on the 17th after finding water prevented him from reaching 30 under. Scheffler won by four shots over a group including Andrew Putnam, Matt McCarty, Ryan Gerard, and Jason Day, all at 23 under. Si Woo Kim, the overnight leader, carded a 72 to finish tied for sixth at 22 under.
This victory marked Scheffler's 20th PGA Tour title in his 151st start, making him the second-fastest to that milestone in days (1,442 since his first win in 2022) and the third youngest. He earned $1.656 million, pushing his career total to $101,109,136 and joining Woods and Rory McIlroy in the PGA Tour's $100 million club. "Any time you can get mentioned with those guys, it means you’re doing some stuff right," Scheffler said after the round. He downplayed the milestones, focusing on preparation: "I try not to think about that stuff too much. I’m going to go home and rinse and repeat."
Scheffler's form remains elite, with four wins in his last seven starts since the Open Championship at Royal Portrush. Jason Day, tied for second, praised his patience and consistency: "He’s putting up Tiger-ish numbers... Every time he tees it up, he’s right around the lead. And that’s a very, very difficult thing to do."
Notable was 18-year-old Blades Brown, a Korn Ferry Tour member who turned pro instead of attending college. Playing his eighth competitive round in eight days, Brown birdied the second but double-bogeyed the fifth, finishing tied for 18th at 19 under. "Getting to play with Scottie Scheffler in the final group at 18 years old is — I had to pinch myself," Brown said. He highlighted learning Scheffler's short game: "One of the coolest things... was how underrated Scottie Scheffler’s short game is." Brown, who nearly shot 59 in round two, called the experience "insane" and affirmed his pro path: "I’m running my race."
Scheffler used his consistent TaylorMade P7TW irons throughout, crediting them for his ball-striking prowess—he led the field in Strokes Gained: Approach over the past two seasons.
