Fish and Pavelski Pace American Century Championship Field Ahead of Sunday Finale

As the 2026 American Century Championship enters its final round at Stateline, NV, the leaderboard features a familiar rivalry between former champions. Mardy Fish, the 2024 winner, and Joe Pavelski, who took the title in 2025, are currently locked in a tight battle at the top of the standings. Pavelski held the initial lead after the first round with 29 points, but Fish surged ahead during the second round to accumulate 52 points.

The tournament utilizes a modified Stableford scoring system, awarding points for aggressive play. Competitors receive six points for eagles and three for birdies, while pars yield a single point. Bogeys result in zero points, and double bogeys or worse deduct two points from the total score. This format encourages risk-taking, as players pick up their ball once they reach double bogey to minimize damage.

While the competition between the two athletes has drawn comparisons to the famous home run race between Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa, both competitors downplayed the analogy during Saturday’s press conference. Fish noted the depth of the field, pointing out that Annika Sorenstam sits closely behind Pavelski with 47 points. However, Fish admitted that Pavelski is the first score he checks due to the hockey star’s suitability for the course.

Pavelski found the comparison humorous but reiterated that the focus remains on the entire field. He specifically mentioned keeping an eye on Steph Curry and other competitors who can quickly gain momentum with confidence on the greens.

Viewers looking to watch the conclusion of the event can tune in to the broadcast on Sunday. The final round coverage will air across several platforms owned by Comcast Corporation. NBC, the NBC Sports Network, and Peacock will provide live coverage of the tournament’s conclusion. Comcast’s stock was recently trading at $23.57, reflecting a slight increase.

What to watch

• The final round broadcast schedule on NBC and Peacock platforms.
• Performance of the leaderboard leaders, specifically Fish and Pavelski, under the Stableford system.
• Whether Annika Sorenstam or Steph Curry can mount a challenge to the leaders.

Source: original release