With a smooth performance down the stretch Sunday, Mardy Fish became a three-time winner of the American Century Championship.
Fish, who also won the celebrity golf tournament in 2020 and ’24, closed with
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The former tennis star, who was the top-ranked American in 2011 and reached No. 7 in the world, won his third ACC title on the same day that Jannik Sinner captured his second consecutive Wimbledon title. Fish laughed when asked by NBC Sports’ Jimmy Roberts if he ever wondered what might have been if he’d dedicated his life to golf instead of tennis.
“No, I think I played the right sport, but I am obsessed with this game,” said Fish, a former U.S. Davis Cup captain and 2004 Olympic silver medalist who won six ATP tournaments and made the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, U.S. Open and Wimbledon. “I do love playing. This is the best week of the year. It’s the best email of the year when you get the invite.”
For the win, Fish was presented by American Century president and CEO Jonathan Thomas with a crystal trophy and a white “lab coat” to signify the company’s investment in medical research. Fish also won $150,00 from a purse of $750,000 (plus a charity component for local and national non-profits).
Unlike his past two victories in South Lake Tahoe, Nevada, Fish had the tournament essentially wrapped up heading to the final hole at the Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course.
Joe Pavelski, who was trying to win his second consecutive American Century Championship, needed an eagle and put a shot in the water going for broke.
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Fish’s nervous moment came on the 16th hole when an errant second shot landed in a greenside bunker. He made a successful scramble for birdie and won by six points over Pavelski in the modified Stableford scoring system.
NBA superstar Steph Curry finished third with 59 points, followed by LPGA legend Annika Sorenstam (58) and MLB Hall of Famer John Smoltz (55).
“I figured if I didn’t go backwards, I would maybe be OK,” Fish said. “And the conditions were pretty tough here in the last couple of holes.”
Fish is now tied with Tony Romo and Mark Mulder for fourth with three American Century Championship victories. Rick Rhoden has a record eight wins, followed by Dan Quinn (5) and Billy Joe Tolliver (4).
Top 10 finishers, American Century Championship
1. Mardy Fish 72
2. Joe Pavelski 66
3. Steph Curry 59
4. Annika Sorenstam 58
5. John Smoltz 55
6. Tony Romo 52
7. Derek Lowe 50
8. Taylor Twellman 47
9. Matt Boldy 43
10. Dwight Freeney 42
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