HLs: Barkley goes on heater in American Century R1
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USA Today
5 hours ago
- USA Today
Ex-NHL star Joe Pavelski wins American Century celebrity golf tournament
Joe Pavelski stood alone as the winner of the American Century Championship at Lake Tahoe on Sunday, July 13. The former NHL star capped off his 41st birthday weekend, going wire-to-wire in the celebrity golf tournament at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course and finishing with a total of 73 in the modified Stableford scoring system the tournament uses. Pavelski left do no doubt, sealing his victory with an eagle on the final hole. He finished nine points ahead of Baseball Hall of Famer John Smoltz, who rallied on the final day to finish second after entering the day tied for sixth. Pavelski entered the final round on Sunday tied for first with former soccer player Taylor Twellman. The two were even at 44 after the first two rounds. Twellman dropped off in the final round and finished fourth. Country singer Jake Owen finished third. LEADERBOARD: Full results from American Century Classic Other notable names in the tournament include Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry (5th place), NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers (15th), who recently signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and Basketball Hall of Famer and TNT analyst Charles Barkley (69th). Pavelski announced his retirement from the NHL on July 16, 2024, after 18 seasons, tallying 1,068 career points (476 goals, 592 assists) in 1,332 regular-season games for the Dallas Stars and San Jose Sharks. Pavelski finished second to former tennis player Mardy Fish at Edgewood in 2024 and was third in 2023 when Curry won. Pavelski earned $150,000 for winning the American Century Championship , which he said will likely go towards a new MasterCraft boat. This is the ninth year Pavelski has played the tournament at Edgewood; he has regularly been among the top contenders. Contributing: Jim Krajewski, Reno Gazette Journal
San Francisco Chronicle
6 hours ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
One cool layer of Tahoe golf event? Steph Curry and Annika Sorenstam can chase the same prize
STATELINE, Nev. – Stephen Curry made a spirited run at another celebrity golf victory Sunday alongside glimmering Lake Tahoe. Curry soared up the leaderboard, energized the galleries and reached the 18th hole needing eagle to have any chance. Then he wildly hooked his tee shot out-of-bounds, removing himself from the fray. It wouldn't have mattered, anyway: Joe Pavelski, the former San Jose Sharks standout, finished strong to earn his first win in the American Century Championship, after years of falling just short. Curry ultimately took fifth. But he did beat Annika Sorenstam – and that's no easy feat at Edgewood Tahoe. Sorenstam's presence in the 90-player field offers a fascinating layer to this annual gathering of mostly professional athletes from other sports. She's a fixture among the perpetual contenders at Edgewood, a logical extension of her status as one of the most accomplished women's players in history. The wider point: In golf, men and women can compete equitably and entertainingly. Any advantage Pavelski, Curry and their male peers enjoy in power, Sorenstam counters with her relentless accuracy. She peppers the fairway with tee shots, just like always. Even at age 54, she still plays the game with clinical precision. Or consider this: Sorenstam finished seventh Sunday, her worst result in six appearances in the tournament. She previously tied for second, then finished fourth, tied for fourth, sixth and third. 'Annika obviously can still play, she still loves it and she's an ambassador for golf,' Curry said. Sorenstam clearly was disappointed with the way she played Sunday, when a final-round surge never materialized. She putted poorly most of the day, including a missed 2-footer for birdie on No. 8 that left her caddie and husband, Mike McGee, in disbelief. But the macro view matters more, and Sorenstam's impact counts as significant in ways beyond golf. This tournament draws eclectic crowds to the shores of Tahoe. Basketball fans savor their up-close view of Curry. Football fans shout wisecracks toward Aaron Rodgers and Josh Allen. Non-sports fans follow comedians such as Nate Bargatze and Ray Romano. As Sorenstam put it, 'Everybody can find somebody they like. There are so many different characters here. That's what's so cool about golf.' There also are more women in the galleries than at a typical tournament, including many young girls. They have an obvious role model. 'If you see someone you cheer for do well in any sport, it gets you motivated, makes you want to practice and makes you dream,' Sorenstam said. 'That would be cool to win here. There are a lot of women (in the crowd), it's cool for them to see we can do this together. I'm trying.' Sorenstam, who lives part of the year in nearby Incline Village, made her debut in the event in 2014. She returned in 2021 and has played every year since then, invariably with McGee as her caddie and their two kids following along. NBC executive Jon Miller, the tournament's founder and creator, acknowledged the proximity to Sorenstam's home helped bring her aboard. Her game also offers a logical fit: Good enough to regularly contend but not dominate the way she did on tour in her prime. Miller said he'd never invite a PGA Tour pro to play at Edgewood, for obvious competitive reasons. But Sorenstam's popularity with the fans has Miller thinking about other retired LPGA players; he mentioned Michelle Wie West and Lexi Thompson as future possibilities. Miller did not add Sorenstam to make any grand point about gender competition, even if she's making the point. 'The motive really is to show Annika still has it, she can still compete,' Miller said. 'She's great for the event, and she's here as long as she wants to continue to play.' Sorenstam brings history in smashing barriers, of course. In May 2003, she became the first woman in 58 years to play in a PGA Tour event. She shot 71-74 and missed the cut by four strokes in the tournament at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth. Her solid performance quieted a lot of skeptics about the quality of play in women's golf. Former Oakland A's pitcher Mark Mulder remembered watching Sorenstam at Colonial, in the clubhouse before one of his baseball games. Now Mulder, a three-time winner at Edgewood, often plays golf with Sorenstam in celebrity tournaments. He half-joked she has missed maybe three fairways in all their rounds together. Sorenstam played the same tees as the men in her first four appearances at Edgewood. Then, as a nod to her age and decreased distance off the tee, Miller and tournament officials moved Sorenstam ahead on some holes; the course measured 272 yards shorter for her this year, 6,437 compared to 6,709 for the men. Mulder said he thinks that's fair. He also suggested Sorenstam's strong showings make another point: The top active players on the LPGA Tour are significantly better than accomplished male celebrity players. 'Those girls would have crushed us these three days,' Mulder said. 'Trust me, all of us who play are well aware of that, because we've played with them. So anybody who thinks differently just doesn't quite understand.' Maybe, in an indirect way, Sorenstam is helping people understand. Briefly: Curry was surprised to see Warriors teammate Jimmy Butler on the course Sunday. Curry talked to Butler a day earlier but didn't realize he was coming to Tahoe, saying, 'He's a man of mystery. But the fact he came out to say, 'What's up?' that meant a lot. It was good to see him.' … Jerry Rice earned low-49er honors, finishing 23rd – ahead of current fullback Kyle Juszczyk (tied for 59th) and tight end George Kittle (81st). … Five women in all competed at Edgewood, including golf media personality Hally Leadbetter, who took 20th.
Newsweek
6 hours ago
- Newsweek
NHL Legend Bests Steph Curry, John Smoltz to Win American Century
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Competitive golf built on scorecards and birdies is fun, but fans go even more wild when all their favorite athletes swap their regular arsenal with golf clubs. That spirit was front and center at the American Century Championship, where retired NHL star Joe Pavelski pulled off a bold win on Sunday. It was not an easy job. The 41-year-old outpaced golf lover Stephen Curry, John Smoltz, and Taylor Twellman, piling up 73 points in total, including 29 on Sunday alone. His showdown included five birdies and a roaring eagle on the 18th hole. JOE PAVELSKI. WALK-OFF EAGLE TO WIN IT. 🦅 — NBC Sports (@NBCSports) July 13, 2025 Meanwhile, baseball Hall of Fame pitcher John Smoltz put up a strong fight with 28 points on Sunday. He finished second with 64 total points. Jake Owen followed in third with 62, and Taylor Twellman landed fourth at 61. Steph Curry, who won the event in 2023, was in contention until a costly double bogey on the final hole dropped him to fifth with 58 points. "It feels so good to finally get one," Pavelski said, holding the trophy. "Selfishly, I get to play a bunch of golf. It's a very competitive group out here and just an awesome setting." STATELINE, NEVADA - JULY 13: Joe Pavelski celebrates with the trophy after the final round of the American Century Championship at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course on July 13, 2025 in Stateline, Nevada. (Photo by Eakin... STATELINE, NEVADA - JULY 13: Joe Pavelski celebrates with the trophy after the final round of the American Century Championship at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course on July 13, 2025 in Stateline, Nevada. (Photo by) More Getty Images The win came on his 41st birthday weekend, which also marked his 17th wedding anniversary, a double celebration for the former San Jose Sharks and Dallas Stars forward. The 4-time NHL All-Star additionally took home a $150,000 paycheck from the tournament's $750,000 purse. He becomes the third NHL player to win the event, joining Dan Quinn and Mario Lemieux. "I got the text last night from Quinny, little pep talk. Pretty awesome to go get one for the hockey guys," Pavelski said. "We're a tight-knit group. I know they were cheering for me. It's special to get it done." The fans were out in full force, many waving Sharks and Stars jerseys, and Pavelski noticed. "It doesn't go unnoticed when I hear you guys shouting, cheering from behind the rope," he said. "The hockey side is special, and the connections I had with the fans in San Jose and Dallas mean the world to me." More Golf: Travis Kelce strikes fan in the neck at American Century Championship
