Summer is a beautiful time of year in South Lake Tahoe, CA, and sports and entertainment superstars will take center stage there, July 9-11, when the American Century Championship and the spectators return to Tahoe South for its 32nd edition. The 2021 Tournament will feature the best field in its 32-year history, competing for $600,000 and fundraising for charity at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course.
Patrick Mahomes, Justin Timberlake, Tony Romo, Aaron Rodgers, and Charles Barkley will headline a star-studded field of more than 80 sports and entertainment stars competing in the 54-hole championship. NBC and NBCSN will televise the tournament live this summer, with GOLF Channel surrounding tournament coverage with interviews and insights through the week.
The tournament was safely conducted in 2020, albeit without spectators amidst the global pandemic, and raised $600,000 for COVID-19 and social justice charities while fulfilling its commitment to promote the Lake Tahoe region in what is usually the destination resort’s biggest week of the year. A return to a semblance of normalcy is on tap this year while the tournament works with state, regional, and health authorities for spectator access – estimated at half the 60,000 fans who typically line the fairways and lakeside in boats along the famed 17th Hole. Event organizers and sponsors will take multiple precautions to ensure health and safety for all participants and attendees.
Credit: American Century
The battle for the 2021 title is slated to include standout golfers like two-time champion Tony Romo, three-time champion Mark Mulder, PGA TOUR Champions exemption competitor John Smoltz and defending champion Mardy Fish the U.S. Davis Cup Captain. Newcomers to the tournament include Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott, New Orleans Saints star Taysom Hill, Los Angeles Rams offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth, two-time New York Giants Super Bowl Champion Justin Tuck, and former New York Yankees star pitcher CC Sabathia.
Newly-retired future Hall of Fame quarterback and NBC Sports’ new Football Night in America analyst Drew Brees is part of the contingent of 39 current or former NFL players, coaches, and Hall of Famers who tee it up at Edgewood Tahoe each year. Active players Larry Fitzgerald, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Kyle Fuller, Robbie Gould, Travis Kelce, Patrick Peterson, Golden Tate, and Adam Thielen all use the event as a final respite before opening NFL training camps each year.
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The field collectively represents 16 Hall of Famers, 13 Most Valuable Player awards, and 15 Cy Young Awards. Among the women celebrity golfers in the field are NBC News and TODAY Show meteorologist Dylan Dreyer, NBC Sports anchor and on-air personality Kathryn Tappen and GOLF Channel on-air commentator Kira K. Dixon, 2015’s Miss America.
This summer, the 2021 American Century Championship will utilize the Modified Stableford format whereby points are awarded as follows: 10 for a double eagle, 8 for a hole in one, 3 for a birdie, 1 for par, 0 for bogey, and minus 2 for double bogey. Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course, a George Fazio design, has been rated by Golf Digest Magazine as one of “America’s Top 100 Golf Courses.”
