Straka shot an 8-under 64 on Saturday in his third straight bogey-free round, staking the newly bald Austrian to a four-shot lead over Charley Hoffman, Jason Day and Justin Lower in the Coachella Valley desert.

Hoffman won his first PGA Tour title at this event back in 2007, holding held off John Rollins in a playoff on a windy weekend with sub-freezing temperatures. It was a celebrity pro-am known as the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic back then, a West Coast landmark frequently played by Hollywood stars and U.S. presidents.

Straka, one of more than a dozen active PGA Tour players from the University of Georgia, followed up his third-round 64 with a 70 on Sunday at the Stadium Course and at 25-under-par 263 won The American Express by two shots over Justin Thomas (66).

Justin Thomas didn’t take home the American Express trophy Sunday—he finished in solo second place, two behind winner Sepp Straka—but he did move up and into elite company on one all-time PGA Tour list.

Sepp Straka won The American Express by two shots over Justin Thomas on Sunday, finishing his third career PGA Tour victory at 25-under 263 with a final-round 70. Straka, the first Austrian to win on the tour three years ago,

Luke Donald had plenty to be happy about on Sunday with a second prospective member of his Ryder Cup team claiming a big victory after Tyrrell Hatton's triumph at the Dubai Desert Classic

Thomas has also reached a new plateau in terms of career earnings. His second place in La Quinta put another $959,200 in his bank account, and that makes him the 11th golfer in PGA Tour history to surpass the $60 million mark in on-course earnings.

The Australian veteran who was once world No. 1 had three chip-ins in Thursday's round and stayed hot Friday to go to 14-under

"Let’s be honest — this game can feel a little distant at times," Thomas told his fellow players. He had ideas for how to bridge that gap.

Hideki Matsuyama and Ludvig Aberg are the top-ranked players taking part in the fourth tournament of the year at Torrey Pines in San Diego.

The PGA Tour heads to San Diego for the Farmers Insurance Open. A rare Wednesday start on Jan. 22 with three rounds at Torrey Pines South Course and one on the North Course. Golf odds, picks, props and information you can bet on.

David Berson, president and CEO of CBS Sports, said it was critical to hear from a player who is a major winner and a former world No. 1.