It was a weekend for the books as Golden State Warriors’ star, Steph Curry, etched his name in the annals of golf history by emerging victorious at the 2023 American Century Championship, a celebrity golf tournament held at Lake Tahoe, Nevada.
On Sunday, July 16, the basketball sensation swapped the parquet for the green and sunk a long eagle putt on the 18th hole, effectively securing a win and delighting the crowd who promptly erupted into “MVP” chants. The eagle putt followed on the heels of a spectacular hole-in-one achievement the day before on the 52-yard No. 7 hole at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course.
The jubilation was palpable as Curry tossed his golf hat into the air and raced off the green, embracing his wife, Ayesha. In the true spirit of victory, he stated, “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 scoring for this tournament is unique, employing a Modified Stableford scoring system that awards and deducts points for performance on each hole. Curry claimed the tournament crown with a total of 75 points, just nudging out retired tennis pro Mardy Fish who finished with 73 points. This victory also marked Curry as the first active athlete to win the ACC since the NFL’s Al Del Greco in 2000.
Despite the pressure and the thrill of the tournament, Curry stayed composed, leaning on his experience from basketball. He said, “Just being in those situations where the stakes are high. You want something really bad and you have to kind of sleep on the thoughts that you’re having about what might happen the next day.”
Interestingly, Curry’s spectacular win made him the first Black winner of the tournament in its 34-year history, adding yet another feather to his already well-decorated cap.
Though Curry may be better known for his three-pointers and his ball-handling skills, this victory proves that his talent is multi-faceted. In his display of sporting prowess, Curry has shown that he is not just an exceptional basketball player, but also a true athlete who can conquer any field he steps onto. This win surely attests to his dexterity and competitive spirit, further solidifying his status as a sports icon of his generation.
