Sports and entertainment superstars will take centre stage at Edgewood Tahoe, California this July, for the 33rd rendition of the American Century Championship, celebrity golf’s most prominent tournament.
Gallery favourites Justin Timberlake, Charles Barkley, and Larry the Cable Guy will be joined by first time players Colin Jost of Saturday Night Live, The Miz of World Wrestling Entertainment fame, and Jake Owen, country music singer/songwriter to compete for $600,000 and charity fundraising during the 54-hole tournament.
The American Century Championship will be televised nationally Friday-Sunday (8-10 July), with GOLF Channel carrying the opening round on Friday and NBC airing live coverage Saturday and Sunday.
Tickets are now available online only in advance at: www.AmericanCenturyChampionship.com with daily tickets for Wednesday’s practice round and Thursday’s Celebrity-Amateur at £25, and tournament rounds Friday, Saturday and Sunday at £32 per day. A Grounds Pass for all five days is just £74, a 50% savings.
Vinny Del Negro will defend his title against top celebrity contenders including Annika Sorenstam, one of the greatest professional players in history with 72 LPGA Tour wins and eight Player of the Year Awards; Mark Mulder, three time ACC champion and former Oakland A’s and St. Louis Cardinals All-Star Pitcher; Mardy Fish, 2020 tournament winner, former tennis star and current captain of the U.S. Davis Cup team; and John Smoltz, MLB Hall of Fame pitcher, 2018 US Senior Open qualifier and Fox MLB analyst.
A contingent of 29 NFL stars are in the field including current quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers, 2021 MVP; and Derek Carr, Las Vegas Raiders. Active players also feature Robbie Gould, 49ers; Adam Thielen, Harrison Smith and Patrick Peterson of the Minnesota Vikings.
Hall of Famers feature Michael Strahan, Steve Young, Jerry Rice, Emmitt Smith, Jerome Bettis, Terrell Davis, Brian Urlacher, Charles Woodson; as well as former All-Pros Larry Fitzgerald, DeMarcus Ware, Kyle Williams, and Jim McMahon. Current coaches include Mike Vrabel, Tennessee Titans, and Herm Edwards, Arizona State.
NBA representation includes Hall of Famers Ray Allen, and local favorite Charles Barkley; defending champ Del Negro; current Miami Heat star Kyle Lowery and Chicago Bulls guard Alex Caruso, making his tournament debut; and Vince Carter, eight-time All-Star and current ESPN analyst.
Women currently in the field include the aforementioned Annika, who’ll be joined by Dylan Dreyer, meteorologist for NBC News and Today; Kathryn Tappen, NBC Sports anchor and on-air personality; and Kira K. Dixon, GOLF Channel reporter and 2015 Miss America.
The lineup of entertainers, actors and comedians features Jost, Miles Teller, Anthony Anderson, Alfonso Ribeiro, Michael Pena, Ray Romano, Rob Riggle, Brian Baumgartner, John O’Hurley, Larry the Cable Guy, Jay DeMarcus, formerly of Rascal Flatts, Jason Scheff, former singer and bassist for Chicago, and Jack Wagner, two-time champion and one of two originals along with Jim McMahon, to have played in all 32 American Century Championships.
The 54-hole competition will test the golf skills of more than 80 players, some of whom compete as amateurs and donate their prize money to tournament charities. The American Century Championship has donated over $5 million to non-profits.
For the latest details, photos, celebrity tweets and fan contests using #ACCgolf go to @ACChampionship on Twitter and Instagram, and Facebook. For tournament information: www.AmericanCenturyChampionship.com.
