Defending champion Nick Dunlap, who won the 2024 American Express as a PGA Tour rookie, will try to become the first back-to-back winner of the event since Johnny Miller in 1975-76.

With 18 holes remaining at the 2025 American Express in the California desert, Sepp Straka owns the lead at 23 under. He's four shots clear of Charley Hoffman, Jason Day and Justin Lower at 19 under. There were several PGA Tour stars who missed the cut Saturday afternoon including Wyndham Clark, Tony Finau and Tom Kim.

The PGA Tour reached its third event of the season, the first back on the mainland and in California for the American Express. The three-course rotation over the first three rounds included stops at the Pete Dye Stadium Course,