The 2023 American Century Championship celebrity tournament kicks off Friday on the South Course at Edgewood Tahoe in South Lake Tahoe, Nevada.
Some of sport’s current and former stars as well as entertainers are on hand for the fun and festive event, including Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry and Kansas City Chiefs teammates Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes, who both took down Curry and his Splash Brother teammate Klay Thompson at The Match a couple of weeks ago.
In addition to the current star of Kelce, Mahomes and Curry, Josh Allen and Aaron Rodgers, the quarterbacks for the Buffalo Bills and the New York Jets, respectively, are on hand and taking part in this event.
Rodgers is one of 39 NFL stars in Reno this week including two head coaches, Tennessee’s Mike Vrabel and Jacksonville’s Doug Pederson.
In addition, there are about a dozen Pro Football Hall of Famers teeing it up from Jerry Rice, Marcus Allen, Steve Young and others.
Curry is one of 10 NBA Stars competing this week, which also includes his brother, Seth and father, Dell. Also teeing it up are Hall of Famers Charles Barkley and Ray Allen. From the NBA group, 2021 American Century Champion Vinny Del Negro is once again in the field, looking to claim his second title in three years.
Among the other current NBA players, Miami Heat’s Kyle Lowry and Chicago’s Zach LaVine is teeing it up. LaVine showed his power earlier this week in Seattle at the Celebrity Softball Game during the Major League Baseball All-Star Festivities with a booming home run to right field from the left side.
Headlining the list of MLB pros in the American Century Championship field is the two-time MLB All-Star Mark Mulder. Mulder, who’s best season on the diamond came in 2001 when he won an American League-best 21 games for the “Moneyball” Oakland A’s, has won the American Century Championship three times. That 2001 season started a stretch of five consecutive years with at least 15 victories for Mulder.
Joining Mulder in the field are a few former New York Yankees pitchers in Roger Clemens, David Wells and CC Sabathia. Three-time World Series Champion Jon Lester and two-time champion Kevin Millar are also competing this week. The knuckleballer, Tim Wakefield, who was teammates with Millar on the 2004 Boston Red Sox championship team, is also preparing this week.
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American Century Championship Course: Edgewood Tahoe South
Edgewood Tahoe South is a par 72, measuring 6,709 yards. The course does not play smaller because of the tee boxes that are being used, but also due to the elevation being more than 6,200 feet above sea level.
American Century Championship scoring format
The scoring format this week is a bit different compared to a tournament on the PGA Tour. This week’s scoring follows a modified Stableford format that is then converted into points.
The scoring favors players to go after birdies and save bogeys with no penalty.
| Score | Points |
| Double Eagle | 10 |
| Hole In One | 8 |
| Eagle | 6 |
| Birdie | 3 |
| Par | 1 |
| Bogey | 0 |
| Double Bogey | -2 |
Top 5 players to win the American Century Championship
Mardy Fish
Last year, Mardy Fish recorded another top-10 finish and continues to be a favorite year in and year out. The former tennis player used a 27-point second round to get him to a sixth-place finish last year. However, what stalled him was a 15-point first round and a 14-final round.
If Fish can cast for 20 points each day, he will definitely be in the running.
Tony Romo
Romo is the biggest favorite having won last year’s American Century Championship in a playoff. Romo, who has been an amateur, has experience not just in this tournament but in golf, playing in multiple tournaments surrounding his NFL broadcasting schedule.
He had a big third round last year in order to win his third American Century Championship title in the last five years and remains a contender this week.
Mark Mulder
Mark Mulder came close to winning last year, finishing second and losing in a playoff to Romo and Dallas Stars’ Joe Pavelski. Mulder was looking good heading into the final round with 20 points through the first 18 holes and 25 points through the next 18 before recording 17 in the final round. It gave him his ninth top-8 finish in the last 10 years.
Annika Sorenstam
The player with the most experience on the links this week is the only former professional golfer in the field in 72-time LPGA winner Annika Sorenstam, who finished fourth last year. Sorenstam played steady golf to claim a top-5 finish.
The experience of playing golf for a career is vital as it could be the difference in numerous things on the course this week, especially when it comes to the green and reading the putting surface.
John Smoltz
John Smoltz took a step back last year, finishing tied for 16th with Stephen Curry. Smoltz, a World Series champion, has the ability to back bounce back this year as the competitive mentality and energy shines within every player in the field this week.