Livescore
The American Express has a long history of players breaking through with the first PGA Tour win of their careers. Last year, it was amateur Nick Dunlap. This year, it could be Tour veteran Justin Lower.
Lower finished Saturday’s round tied for second, along with Charley Hoffman and Jason Day, and just four strokes behind leader Sepp Straka. Lower will enter the final round within reach of that elusive first Tour victory that is missing from his career resumé.
“It would mean everything,” Lower said following his round Saturday. “I’d love to win. I think I’m on the brink of winning.”
Lower, 35, will tee off on the Stadium Course again on Sunday, at 10:39 a.m. His betting odds to win are +500 entering the final round.
If Lower can pull it off, he’ll add his name to a list that includes Dunlap, Adam Long (2019), Jhonattan Vegas (2011), Bill Haas (2010), Pat Perez (2009) and Hoffman (2007) — all won their first PGA event here. Donnie Hammond (1986), Craig Stadler (1980) and Bill Rogers (1978) are also on that list.
Lower carded rounds of 9-under 63 at La Quinta Country Club, and 6-under 66 on the Nicklaus Tournament Course at PGA West in his first two rounds this week. He recorded five birdies and two eagles in his first round, with no bogeys, and eight birdies with two bogeys on Friday.
On Saturday, on the PGA West Stadium Course, he carded an 4-under 68, missing an opportunity to climb atop the leaderboard as he struggled with the four par-5 holes. He parred his first two par-5s but bogeyed the last two after bogeying his last par-5 on Friday.
“A little disappointed with how I play the par-5s,” Lower said. “But other than that it was pretty good. Still struggling with the driver a little bit, but again I’m thankful I can putt. The Stadium’s playing tough with the greens the way they are. It’s a little harder to score than the other two courses.”
Lower did not finish any of his three rounds among the top 75 in the field in driving distance, but he’s third in putting through three rounds and first in the distance of his putts.
Lower has played at this event three times previously, with his best finish being 39th. Lower said that he’s playing better this year, largely because he’s playing with more confidence and because he has more familiarity with the courses.
He’s playing with confidence in part because he’s coming off a productive year on the Tour. He participated in 31 events in 2024, and finished in the top 5 five times. He was the runner-up in November at the World Wide Technology Championship in Los Cabos, Mexico, and a week later finished fifth at the Butterfield Bermuda Championship.
Now, six weeks later, he’s in contention once again.
Will he be the next to win his first PGA Tour event in the California desert?
“I feel like I can do it, it’s just a matter of actually doing it, I guess, if that makes sense,” Lower said. “Four back, I think. Four? Yeah, I mean, that’s kind of a hefty margin there, but it’s possible, I mean, the way the greens are and everything, a bounce here or there, it could happen.”
Andrew John covers sports for The Desert Sun and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at andrew.john@desertsun.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Justin Lower’s first PGA Tour win within reach at The American Express
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