If you’ve ever watched a retired NHL star stick a wedge to two feet while a Hall of Fame pitcher grumbles about a missed birdie putt, you know that celebrity golf is a weird, high-stakes alternate reality. It isn't just about the scenery or the expensive polos. Honestly, checking a celebrity golf tournament leaderboard is often more stressful than watching the pros because these guys actually care—sometimes too much.
Right now, as we hit the mid-January stretch of 2026, the leaderboard everyone is talking about comes from the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions at Lake Nona. It’s the season opener where LPGA winners play alongside the stars. And let’s be real: seeing Joe Pavelski at the top of the standings again isn't even a surprise anymore. The man is a machine.
Why the Hilton Grand Vacations Leaderboard Looks Different This Year
The 2026 edition has been a wild ride. While A Lim Kim and Nelly Korda are tearing up the pro side, the celebrity division is a slugfest. Joe Pavelski, fresh off his dominant 2025 American Century Championship win, is currently holding a narrow lead. He’s sitting at 145 points under the modified Stableford system.
It's a weird scoring style if you aren't used to it. You get points for pars and birdies rather than just counting strokes. It rewards aggressive play.
Jeff McNeil of the New York Mets is hot on his heels with 140 points. McNeil is known as one of the best "active athlete" golfers, and he’s proving it this week. Then you have Mark Mulder, a perennial threat in these things, sitting in third at 138. It’s basically a three-horse race heading into the final stretch.
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The Top 10 Celebrity Standings (Lake Nona 2026)
- Joe Pavelski: 145 pts. The guy just doesn't miss.
- Jeff McNeil: 140 pts. Gritty performance from the Mets star.
- Mark Mulder: 138 pts. A former champ who knows how to close.
- Jeremy Roenick: 137 pts. J.R. is always in the mix and always loud.
- Mardy Fish (Tie): 134 pts. The tennis legend is surprisingly human this week.
- Aaron Hicks (Tie): 134 pts. Pure athlete, pure swing.
- John Smoltz (Tie): 131 pts. The Braves legend is grinding through some putting woes.
- Jack Wagner (Tie): 131 pts. The ageless wonder of celebrity golf.
- Annika Sorenstam: 130 pts. Yes, she plays in the celebrity division here. It’s almost unfair.
- Taylor Twellman: 128 pts. The soccer analyst is holding steady.
The Lake Tahoe Hangover: Remembering the 2025 American Century Championship
To understand the current celebrity golf tournament leaderboard, you have to look back at what happened at Edgewood Tahoe last summer. That tournament is the "Major" of celebrity golf. Joe Pavelski’s wire-to-wire victory there was a statement. He finished with 73 points, holding off John Smoltz (64 points) and country singer Jake Owen (62 points).
People forget that Steph Curry, who won it in 2023 with that insane walk-off eagle, finished 5th in 2025. It shows how deep the field is getting. Even Tony Romo, a guy who usually breathes fire on the course, struggled to keep pace, finishing 8th.
And then there's Charles Barkley. Sir Charles is the soul of the leaderboard, even if he's usually near the bottom. In 2025, he finished 69th with -17 points. Hey, it’s better than the days when he had the "hitch" and finished dead last. Progress is progress.
What Most People Get Wrong About These Scores
Most casual fans think a celebrity golf tournament leaderboard is just a list of handicaps. It’s not. Most of these top guys are scratch golfers or better. When you see Mardy Fish or Tony Romo on the tee, they are hitting "pro-level" shots.
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The biggest misconception? That it’s all fun and games.
During the 2025 Tahoe event, Jimmy Rollins hit a hole-in-one on the 12th hole and won a MasterCraft boat worth $325,000. That’s not a "fun" prize; that’s life-changing for most people, though maybe just a nice toy for Jimmy. The intensity is real. You'll see guys like Aaron Rodgers (who finished 15th in Tahoe) obsessing over their launch monitor data between rounds.
Upcoming Events: Where the Leaderboard Shifts Next
If you're tracking these rankings, the next big one is the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in February. It's a bit different because it’s a pro-am format, but the celebrity focus is huge. Rory McIlroy is the defending pro champ there, but all eyes will be on the celebrity pairings.
We’re also hearing rumors about a potential return of "The Match" featuring some of these high-ranking celebrities later in 2026. If Pavelski keeps this up, he’s a lock for any major televised event.
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Key Factors That Influence the Leaderboard
- The Scoring System: Stableford vs. Stroke play. Stableford favors the big hitters who can rack up birdies even if they take a double-bogey occasionally.
- The Pressure: Playing in front of cameras is different than a Saturday morning game with friends.
- Active vs. Retired: Retired athletes like Mulder and Smoltz have more time to practice than guys like Steph Curry or Josh Allen.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Bettors
If you’re looking to follow the celebrity golf tournament leaderboard with a bit more skin in the game, keep these things in mind. First, look at the "Hockey Factor." NHL players like Pavelski, Roenick, and Tkachuk have a swing plane that translates incredibly well to golf. They are consistently undervalued in betting markets compared to NFL quarterbacks.
Second, watch the weather at Lake Nona. It’s been breezy this week, which favors the ball-strikers like Jeff McNeil.
Lastly, don't sleep on the "Sorenstam Effect." When Annika is in the celebrity field, she sets the bar. If the celebrities around her are crumbling, it’s usually because the course setup is too tough for anyone but a pro.
Keep an eye on the final round scores this weekend. Pavelski is the man to beat, but in celebrity golf, one shank into the water can change everything in a heartbeat.
Follow these steps to stay updated:
- Check the official LPGA/HGV live scoring portal for hole-by-hole updates.
- Monitor social media for "Course Cam" footage—often celebrities will post their own clips between holes.
- Look for the "Smash Factor" stats; they often predict who will move up the leaderboard on the final day.