Birdie-fest begins as Bhatia, Theegala open steady at The American Express

Indian-origin players Akshay Bhatia and Sahith Theegala opened with contrasting rounds in the low-scoring chaos of The American Express, where birdies poured in across the tournament’s three-course rotation.

Bhatia started at La Quinta Country Club and posted a solid 4-under 68, keeping pace in a field where par was quickly left behind. Theegala drew the toughest of the three tracks, the Pete Dye Stadium Course, and signed for a 1-under 71.

Indo-Canadian Sudarshan Yellamaraju, fresh off a T-13 last week, shot 2-under 70 on the Nicklaus Tournament Course — a number that still left him deep in the pack given how low the day went.

At the top, Min Woo Lee and Pierceson Coody led with matching 10-under 62s on the Nicklaus Course, the easiest setup of the rotation. Scottie Scheffler was a shot back after a bogey-free 9-under 63 at La Quinta, his best 18-hole score in 19 career rounds at this event. He missed just one green — and chipped in for birdie at 17 — despite hitting only five fairways.

A further nine players finished at 9-under 63, including Patrick Cantlay and Jason Day, in an opening round that set a familiar American Express tone: survive the Stadium, score on Nicklaus, and keep pressing.

Defending champion Sepp Straka opened at even par, undone by a double bogey.

Photo – PGAT / Akshay Bhatia and Sahith Theegala