STATELINE, Nev. – In a thrilling finale, Stephen Curry secured victory at the American Century Championship on Sunday, claiming his first title in the prestigious celebrity tournament. The star of the Golden State Warriors, who had already made a hole-in-one on Saturday, outdid himself with an 18-foot putt for eagle on the par-5 18th hole at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course, situated on the picturesque shores of Lake Tahoe. As the ball found its mark, Curry jubilantly threw his hat into the air before embracing his wife, Ayesha.
In his post-round interview, Curry expressed his elation, saying, “I don’t do this for a living, so it’s something you dream about. I’ve been playing in this tournament for almost a decade, and now I’ve got some hardware to show for it. It’s pretty special.”
The eagle on the final hole earned Curry an impressive six points under the modified Stableford scoring system utilized in the tournament. In this system, players are awarded three points for a birdie, one point for a par, and face a deduction of two points for a double bogey or worse.
With a total of 75 points, Curry finished two points ahead of the runner-up, Mardy Fish, a former professional tennis player who emerged victorious in the 2020 edition of the event. Fish held a three-point lead over Curry going into the 18th hole but could only manage a par, allowing Curry to seize the title.
Curry’s remarkable performance had already gained significant attention when he made a hole-in-one on the 152-yard, par-3 seventh hole, becoming a viral sensation for the second time during the tournament.
Reflecting on his victory, Curry remarked, “I was hitting the ball pretty solid, so I felt I would have a chance. On the putt, I was surprisingly calm. The last five feet felt like slow motion.”
Fish put up a strong challenge, pulling even with Curry after securing birdies on three of the first six holes. He took the lead when Curry experienced a setback with bogeys on the 11th, 12th, and 14th holes. In traditional scoring, Curry carded a 72 on Sunday, while Fish recorded the day’s best round, a 3-under 69.
Joe Pavelski of the Dallas Stars finished in third place with 66 points, followed by former Major League pitcher Mark Mulder in fourth. New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers claimed the fifth spot, just ahead of LPGA Tour legend Annika Sorenstam.
Former pitcher Derek Lowe secured seventh place, while defending champion Tony Romo concluded the tournament in eighth position.
This historic win also marked a significant milestone as Curry became the first Black champion in the tournament’s 34-year history. Additionally, he joins an exclusive group of active athletes to have claimed victory in the American Century Championship, the first since former Tennessee Titans kicker Al del Greco in 2000. As an amateur golfer, Curry will donate his first-place prize of $125,000 to charity.
Curry’s triumph at the American Century Championship solidifies his status as a multi-talented athlete, adding another remarkable achievement to his illustrious career.
