American Century stages 37th event
The American Century Championship held its 37th annual event from July 8 through July 12, 2026, at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course in Stateline, Nevada, along Lake Tahoe’s South Shore region.
NBC Sports owns and broadcasts the made-for-television tournament, which uses a 54-hole modified Stableford format. The 2026 field featured more than 80 sports and entertainment figures competing for a $750,000 purse.
Charles Barkley finishes tied for 70th
Charles Barkley finished tied for 70th with minus 24 points in the 2026 American Century Championship. Mardy Fish won with 72, followed by Joe Pavelski with 66 and Stephen Curry with 59.
Barkley said meeting Scarlett Johansson became his favorite memory from the week. He ranked that encounter above playing with Olympic champions Brady and Matthew Tkachuk and former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce.
Scarlett Johansson attends for Colin Jost
Scarlett Johansson attended the American Century Championship with her five-year-old son, Cosmo, to watch her husband, Colin Jost, compete at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course during the 2026 tournament weekend.
Jost said Johansson texted him after meeting Barkley and identified the Basketball Hall of Famer as the star from “Space Jam.” Her reaction reflected Barkley’s recognition beyond basketball and broadcasting.
Colin Jost nearly makes ace on 17
Colin Jost nearly made a hole-in-one on the 17th hole during the July 11 round at Edgewood Tahoe. The ball stopped inches from the cup after drawing a loud gallery reaction.
During the July 12 final round, tournament coverage replayed the near ace from the lakeside course. Jost then said Johansson’s favorite memory was meeting Barkley, not his close call.
Charles Barkley plays with gold medalists
Charles Barkley played with Brady and Matthew Tkachuk, who won men’s hockey gold with the United States at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Barkley ranked meeting Johansson above that pairing during his July 12 interview.
Barkley also praised former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce after spending time with him during the tournament. He jokingly ranked Kelce behind the Tkachuk brothers in his favorite experiences from the week.
Jason Kelce earns Barkley praise
Jason Kelce competed at the 2026 American Century Championship after retiring from the NFL in March 2024. Barkley said he enjoyed getting to know the longtime Philadelphia Eagles center during the event.
Kelce joined a field featuring current and former figures from basketball, football, hockey, baseball, entertainment, and media. His appearance added another cross-sport connection to the 37th celebrity tournament at Tahoe.
Mardy Fish wins third Tahoe title
Mardy Fish won the 2026 American Century Championship with 72 points under the modified Stableford format. The former tennis player finished 6 points ahead of the 2025 winner, Joe Pavelski, in Nevada.
Fish previously won the event in 2020 and 2024, making the 2026 victory his third Tahoe title. He also earned the $150,000 first-place prize from the $750,000 purse that year.
Joe Pavelski and Curry chase lead
Joe Pavelski finished second with 66 points after starting the final round near the lead. The retired hockey player had won the 2025 tournament before returning as defending champion at Tahoe.
Stephen Curry placed third with 59 points in the final standings, while Annika Sorenstam finished fourth with 58. Former baseball pitcher John Smoltz completed the top five with 55 points.
Stableford scoring rewards strong holes
The American Century Championship uses modified Stableford scoring across 54 holes. Players receive points for favorable results, earn nothing for a bogey, and lose points for a double bogey or worse.
The system awards 10 points for an albatross, eight for a hole-in-one, six for an eagle, three for a birdie, and one for par. A double bogey costs two points.
Prize purse adds scoreboard stakes
The tournament awarded a $750,000 purse in 2026, including $150,000 to the first-place finisher. Second place paid $70,000, while third, fourth, and fifth places paid $40,000, $30,000, and $25,000 for finishers.
Those figures gave the celebrity field a defined prize structure beyond television appeal. The payout also sat beside a charity mission tied to local and national nonprofit organizations through the tournament.
Edgewood Tahoe hosts the championship
Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course hosted the 2026 tournament on Lake Tahoe’s South Shore. Official course information lists the property at 180 Lake Parkway in Stateline, Nevada, with tournament yardage of 6,709.
The championship serves as the South Shore’s largest special event. The five-day program brings sports and entertainment figures to the lakefront course for practice, amateur play, and competition each July.
American Century supports charity programs
The American Century Championship supports national and local charities while staging its celebrity golf competition. The Stowers Institute for Medical Research served as the official national charity for the 2026 event.
Tournament organizers reported more than $8 million in donations since the event began in 1990. Local nonprofit groups may also receive grants through a post-tournament application process managed by the Tahoe visitor authorities.
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Charles Barkley moment closes weekend
Barkley’s meeting with Johansson stood out because his leaderboard position did not drive the story. The moment connected a Basketball Hall of Famer, a major film star, and celebrity golf.
For casual viewers, the exchange showed why the American Century Championship draws attention beyond final scores. The 2026 event produced a human angle that fit its television format and Tahoe setting.
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Would you rather remember Charles Barkley’s meeting with Scarlett Johansson, Colin Jost’s near ace, or Mardy Fish’s tournament victory? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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