Curry trio aims to go low at Tahoe golf tournament
Stephen Curry, who has been knocking on the title door at the American Century Championship at Lake Tahoe for the past seven years, has already added length to his golf game, but this time around he will have extra family support.
Seth Curry, Stephen’s younger brother and the most accurate basketball shooter in the Curry family, will join Stephen and their father Dell in this year’s field, July 911 at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course.
This will be Stephen’s eighth ACC and Dell’s seventh, but this will be Seth’s debut. The Curry threesome will highlight the opening day of the threeday tourney.
Steph is a legitimate contender on the links, having finished as high as fourth three times, including last year, when he had the field’s best round Sunday with 26 points under the modified Stableford format. He has gained at least 10 pounds of muscle since last year’s tourney.
“Steph is killing the ball,” Dell said Wednesday. “He gained muscle in his core and legs, which is a big part of driving the ball, and he absolutely crushes the ball. If he gets off to a better start this year, I definitely think he has a chance to win it . ... If he can be just contending in that last group on the last day, with a good start on Friday, I like his chances.”
Seth is a relative newcomer to golf. He would have played the American Century last year, but his team at the time, the Dallas Mavericks, was in the NBA bubble. This season he was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers. Seth scored 36 points in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semis, but the 76ers were eliminated in seven games by the Hawks.
“Selfishly, it’s great news that he’s playing,” Dell said of Seth, “but I’m sure he wishes he was still playing basketball.”
Seth is an 8handicap, a 6 index. Dell is a 2handicap, 1.7 index. Dell said he sharpened his own game over the last several years by coming to the Bay Area every summer to follow Steph and the Warriors in the playoffs, allowing him a chance to pound golf balls.
“Seth’s golf game has really improved; he’s an avid golfer now,” Dell said. “We’ve gone on golf trips, and (playing the American Century) was not a hard sell at all, once he thought his game was respectful enough . ... He’s going to hold his own, no doubt. He’s able to drive it, good soft hands, good short game, and that will really help him in Tahoe, especially with the quick green.”
Seth, 30, went undrafted out of Duke in 2013, fought his way up through the G League to earn a couple of NBA 10day contracts, and in 2015 signed his first full contract, with the Sacramento Kings. He subsequently played for the Mavericks, Trail Blazers and Mavericks again before the trade to the 76ers.
Stephen is the best golfer in the Curry family, but not the best basketball shooter, statistically. Seth’s NBA career 3point shooting percentage is .444 (.450 this season), to Stephen’s .433 (.421 this season). Seth’s career .444 rate for sinking threes is second on the NBA’s alltime career list behind Steve Kerr’s .454. Stephen is No. 3 on that alltime list, and Dell (.402) is tied for 39th.
Along with Seth, firsttimers in the American Century field include Vallejo’s CC Sabathia, Bills head coach Sean McDermott, Rams tackle Andrew Whitworth and former New York Giants Michael Strahan and Justin Tuck.
Returning stars include Patrick Mahomes, Charles Barkley, Justin Timberlake, Annika Sorenstam, Aaron Rodgers, twotime tourney champ Tony Romo, threetime winner Mark Mulder and defending champion Mardy Fish.
The American Century, played without spectators last year, will welcome about 24,000 fans over the three days, about 60% of capacity, due to COVID limitations.