AMERICAN CENTURY CHAMPIONSHIP

July 12, 2026

Joe Pavelski

Edgewood Tahoe

Press Conference

Q. Joe, you finished second this year after winning in 2025. This round seemed to be tough for everybody today. Looked like it was a grind out there.

JOE PAVELSKI: It was tough. And on, what was it, 13, you could feel the wind start picking up, which was a lot different. Actually, the wind today, it was a different wind than what we're used to.

It was just one of those, it's just the direction. You see a few different shots. It was tough. (Indiscernible) were there. I had a few opportunities to make it a real race at the end. That putt on 14, staring a 6-foot back in there and just hit a really good putt. Probably was too good, held its line and stayed a little high. Didn't have the proper speed on it.

Q. You talked about the wind, all three of you on 17, with the wind knocking it down. All three of you in the bunker.

JOE PAVELSKI: Yeah, that was different. I remember there was one year, I think I hit a 5-iron into that green because it was humming. I saw Mardy hit one. It was lower, so I clubbed up a little bit.

And really probably, the club I had I needed to swing full and I was trying to flight one and got it turning and the one wind ate it up. That was an opportunity.

Mardy's short game this week was definitely the difference maker. He got up-and-down from some incredible spots. And his bunker game was great. It showed coming down the stretch. His up-and-down on 16, his up-and-down on 17, made eagle yesterday from the fairway bunker. A lot of props to him. He hit some tremendous shots.

Q. As far as your finish, obviously disappointed that you didn't win, but you finished second. The sportsbook guys were calling it -- you and Fish. That's the way it turned out.

JOE PAVELSKI: Yeah, he's good. We knew if our games were on, it would be probably coming down the stretch somewhere close together.

The game was there. It was there. Missed a few opportunities. Made a couple mistakes at inconvenient times. Just never fully got it going again since day one, right? Made two birdies. That's not enough. We know that. You need more than that in a round. Regret it.

You get a taste of winning it. That's the only thing on your mind. Coming down the stretch, I really wanted to knock that second one on the green, have a putt just in case, create a little bit more excitement.

You're always standing up there thinking there's a path to get to the playoff here, find a way to win. Didn't end up hitting the right shot. But it was just a tremendous week, for sure.

Q. You defended well. You won last year; top two this year. You didn't embarrass yourself.

JOE PAVELSKI: The competitiveness. Annika, you know how competitive she is. Steph coming out here after having a year off. And Mardy, you know how it feels inside and how you want to win. You know the competitors that they are. So it was there. You're trying to defend it. You wanted it to go back to back. Didn't happen. So we'll have to gear up for another year.