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.

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).

The win earned the 31-year-old Straka his first title since the 2023 John Deere Classic and the $1,584,000 first-place check, the largest of his career.

With the $918,000 check for finishing second in the $8.8 million event, Thomas becomes the latest PGA Tour player to surpass the $60 million mark in career earnings. He is now 10th all time at $60,827,898, passing Matt Kuchar on the list. Thomas is still just under $60 million shy of all-time leader Tiger Woods.

The 31-year-old Austrian won the American Express at PGA West without carding a bogey until the 70th hole of the tournament.

Austria’s Sepp Straka clinched his third PGA Tour title with a two-shot victory at The American Express in California. Heading into Sunday’s final round with a four-shot lead, Straka was able to hold his nerve despite two late dropped shots to get across the line carding two under 70.

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,

I think that was the biggest challenge today was keeping aggressive on my targets,” Straka said after his two-under 70. “Nerves, just complete nerves. Stomach in a knot, the whole nine. So, yeah, just really excited about the way I handed the pressure today.

Sepp Straka sinks birdie putt to increase lead ... gallery watching his pairing with two-time PGA Championship winner Justin Thomas. Day has made a habit of starting his season in the Palm Springs ...

Sepp Straka of Austria has been ... but now it's only Straka. Second-round co-leader Charley Hoffman (69), Justin Lower (68) and Australia's Jason Day (67) share second place at 19 under.

Sepp Straka shot an 8-under 64 on while his top competitors failed to match his sizzling pace at The American Express LA QUINTA, Calif. -- Sepp Straka's game has been almost as clean as his head ...