​STATELINE, Nev. — The three previous champions of the American Century Championship are in position to contend for victory once again, alongside a competitor who knows how to win, even if Edgewood Tahoe has eluded him so far. On Saturday, Mardy Fish moved into a commanding spot by sinking a short eagle putt on the 18th hole and taking the lead in the celebrity golf tournament. He posted 25 points on the day, complementing his 27 from Friday, to reach 52 points as the final round approaches on Sunday.
In the latest standings, Fish sits atop the leaderboard while Joe Pavelski, the defending champion, sits in second with 48 points. Anika Sorenstam, a golf icon with 72 LPGA Tour wins who has yet to win this particular event, is close behind in third with 47 points. Steph Curry, the 2023 champion, is fourth with 41 points, followed by John Smoltz with 37.
As the field prepares for the final round, Fish, Pavelski, and Sorenstam will head out in the final group on Sunday. Fish spoke warmly about the chance to play alongside a legend like Sorenstam, whom he regards as the greatest female golfer of all time, and he expressed how meaningful it is to share the course with someone he has admired for years.
“The cool part about these tournaments and these events is you get to spend a lot of time with people that you’ve sort of watched and looked up to,” Fish said. “I’m a huge golf fan, both on the LPGA and PGA and LIV. It’s sort of surreal to get to play with someone like Annika.”
Pavelski echoed that sentiment while also focusing on his own game. He highlighted the experience of watching Sorenstam’s routine and mechanics and noted that while she is clearly a professional who has endured plenty of high-pressure moments, he would keep his attention on his own play and attempt to post a solid number.
“You watch her short game, watch her warm up. You see some of the shots she hits and the speeds on her putt, you know she’s a professional. You know she’s been through it,” Pavelski said. “It’s been fun to watch and play with her. And listening to her speak earlier, she has a lot of confidence. Seems like her game came around today. And yesterday it sounded like it was there too but she just didn’t make any putts. So she’s going to be tough tomorrow. It’s going to be more about what you can do and not worry too much about them and go try to put up a number.”
Fish believes one subtle advantage for him and Pavelski in the final round could be the knowledge that Sorenstam is chasing her first Edgewood Tahoe victory. “She certainly knows how to close. The only thing that we have is that she hasn’t won one of these. So that’s kind of what we have to sort of think about or what she has to think about, I guess,” Fish noted. “But it’s the fun part about golf, too—there’s nothing I can do about him playing well or not playing well.”
Sorenstam herself is determined to keep the pressure on the leaders and mount a last-chance surge. After two rounds, she stands in third and remains focused on pushing for a low score on Sunday. “I’m not going to let my foot off the pedal. But I’ve got to go low. You can see today I had 25 points, and it’s not enough. So that just shows you what kind of caliber of golf these guys are playing,” she explained, underscoring the challenge of chasing the frontrunners and the importance of a strong, aggressive finish.
As the final round approaches, the leaderboard promises an engaging finish at Edgewood Tahoe, with three past champions and a celebrated competitor looking to rewrite the story of this event. The stage is set for a Sunday showdown, and fans are sure to witness a dramatic conclusion as the contenders strive to add another landmark victory to their résumés.