There's plenty of star power near the top of the leaderboard at the American Express through 54 holes — Jason Day (19 under), Patrick Cantlay (18 under), Justin Thomas (17 under), just to name a few — but there are also nearly a dozen notable names who are packing their bags early after missing the cut on Saturday afternoon.

After reaching 11-under par with birdies on three of his first five holes Saturday and sitting well inside the cut line, Brown stumbled with three bogeys and a double bogey in his final 13 holes. The double bogey came when he put his tee shot in the water on the infamous par-3 17th with its island green.

Scores from the PGA Tour The American Express on Saturday -23 Sepp Straka (Austria) 65 64 64 -19 Justin Lower (USA) 63 66 68 Jason Day (Australia) 64 66 67 Charley Hoffman (USA) 65 63 69 -18 Patrick C

Straka’s round at La Quinta in many ways was the reverse of what might have been expected. Playing the back nine first, Straka made six birdies on the way to a 30, the kind of score generally associated with the front nine at the course that opened in 1959.

The American Express field features eight of the world’s top 25-ranked golfers but will miss out on Nos. 1 and 2 after each withdrew.

Leading scores after the third round of the PGA Tour's American Express tournament in La Quinta, California, on Saturday (USA unless stated; par-72):

Justin Thomas, Patrick Cantlay and Nick Dunlap Compete at The American Express at PGA West in La Quinta, Calif., – Thursday-Sunday Coverage on GOLF Channel Begins at 4 p.m. ET

LA QUINTA – The last two times Sepp Straka played in The American Express, a 23-under score – somebody else’s – won the tournament. Is it his turn this time?

Straka shot 8-under-par 64 for the second day in a row to surge to the lead on Saturday at La Quinta Country Club in La Quinta, Calif. He's at 23 under and will take a four-stroke lead to Sunday's final round on Pete Day Stadium Course.

Sepp Straka shot an 8-under 64 on while his top competitors failed to match his sizzling pace at The American Express.

The pro-am begins Thursday, with 156 pros playing with 156 amateurs on three desert courses -- the Pete Dye Stadium Course and Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course at PGA West and La Quinta Country Club. Here's our look at 10 players to watch when play begins Thursday:

The field for this week's 66th annual The American Express golf tournament in La Quinta boasts eight of the top 25 players in the world and 10 of the top 30. The pro-am begins Thursday ...