Michael Smyth / Tahoe Onstage
Washington Capitals forward T.J. Oshie rode an eagle at the par-five 18th hole to a 21-point day and the lead after the first round of the American Century Championship at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course in Stateline, Nevada.
Tally an assist to Oshie’s caddie for the read on his eagle putt. “It was a little over 12 feet and I didn’t really know where it was going to go,” Oshie said. “So my caddie just told me to hit it straight and I found the cup.”
The ACC uses a Modified Stableford scoring format, where an eagle awards a player six points, a birdie three points, and a par one point. The math bears it out that it rewards aggression. A bogey is only a one-point deduction, and a double bogey only costs a player two points and the ball goes in their pocket.
Three-time champion and former Oakland Athletics pitcher Mark Mulder, as well as LPGA Hall of Famer Annika Sorenstam both sit in second place at 20 points.
Mulder, echoing the sentiments of pretty much everyone who came to the interview room was thrilled to have full fan capacity return to the shores of Lake Tahoe and Edgewood at Tahoe Golf course.
“It sucked in 2020, I hated it, honestly,” Mulder said. “What creates this tournament is the vibe from the fans and I feed off that. A lot of us who love to compete don’t get that anymore and I live for being out here in front of them. I love it.”
2018 and 2019 champion and NFL football broadcaster Tony Romo is among a group of four players tied for fourth place with 18 points.
Sorenstam and Romo, who played in the same group also did their presser together. Both commented on the condition of the golf course, and in particular the greens.
“The greens I think, are a little trickier than last year,” Sorenstam said.
Romo agreed: “The fairways aren’t really running out so the course is playing a little longer, and the greens require the read and the pace to both match perfectly.”
Sorenstam appears a bit more relaxed this year in her second ACC appearance, and having played a lot together here Romo seems to enjoy the pairing as well.
There are a dozen newcomers to the ACC this year and one of them, singer/songwriter Jake Owen, who is a regular at the PGA Tour’s AT&T Pebble beach Pro-Am gave it full marks after a first round of 16 points left him in the mix in a tie for tenth place.
“Well, it exceeded my expectations,” he said. “Everybody told me how much fun this place is. And they were absolutely 150 percent correct. I’ve had a blast today. The golf course, everybody here has this place in pure, pristine condition. And the weather’s perfect. The fans are out here supporting it. So I honestly don’t know how it could be any better. I really don’t.”
Four-time NBA champion Steph Curry got off to a rough bogey-bogey-double bogey start to be minus-two points thru three holes but settled down to finish with 16 points and a tie for tenth with Jack Wagner, Derek Lowe and Owen.
2021 champion Vinny Del Negro didn’t make his first birdie until the 18th hole and finished T-17 with 14 points along with papa Dell Curry and NFL cornerback Harrison Smith.
Charles Barkley once again has a bet on himself, placed ostensibly by a friend since its illegal to wager on yourself, to finish inside the top 70. Sir Charles was cruising through the first 13 holes sitting at minus-two points and hovering right around 50th place. But the wheels kinda came off after that as Chuck limped home with double bogeys on four of his last five holes to finish at minus ten points and a T-71.
–Michael Smyth
