STATELINE, Nev. – The past three winners of the American Century Championship are in close competition for another title following day one of the tournament. Reigning champ Joe Pavelski ended the day in the lead with 29 points, followed by the 2024 winner, Mardy Fish, at 27 points and the 2023 winner, Steph Curry, at 25 points.
Football great Tony Romo sits at 23, and LPGA legend Annika Sorenstam sits at 22. John Smoltz and Derek Lowe are tied for sixth at 19 points.
Sorenstam led the leaderboard for most of the day, scoring an eagle on Hole 3, a bogey on Hole 10 and 16 pars.
“I’m a leaderboard checker, who doesn’t love to see their name at the top,” said Sorenstam.
Going into two day, Sorenstam said she needs to take some more risks.
“This format rewards aggressive play,” she added.
Curry is looking to regain his title but recognizes how competitive the field is.
“The scores keep going higher and higher. 25, you used to be pretty sound; now you’re still chasing,” said Curry.
Curry scored six birdies but also had two bogeys, and he double-bogeyed hole 12.
“It’s wild how golf is just unpredictable,” said Curry.
“You’re not going to just sleepwalk through this whole thing and win this,” he later added.
The 2024 champion, Mardy Fish, who is favored to win the tournament, finished the day with five birdies and one bogey.
“I’m happy with the score,” said Fish. “I didn’t hit it great but scored well. We had a great group; it was just an easy round of good golf.”
Fish said he doesn’t want to get too comfortable with his placement, saying, “The golf gods are always listening, and if you say, ‘man, I’m hitting it so well out there and can’t wait to get out there and hit it well again tomorrow,’ it just doesn’t work like that.”
Pavelski eagled 18 to bring his score to 29, helping make up for his four bogeys of the day.
When talking about potentially playing with Fish and Curry on day two, the NHL great said, “That would be an awesome group. [I] love playing with Steph, love playing with Mardy. We’d have a lot of fun together. I like their games. They’re good players.”
