The 37th annual celebrity golf tournament returns to Edgewood Tahoe July 8-12, bringing sports legends, entertainers and thousands of fans back to the South Shore
One of Lake Tahoe’s biggest summer traditions returns this week as the American Century Championship brings its mix of celebrity golf, lakefront crowds and national television exposure back to Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course.
The 37th annual event runs Wednesday through Sunday, July 8-12, with practice and celebrity-amateur rounds early in the week followed by three tournament rounds Friday through Sunday. The event has long been a destination draw for fans from the Sacramento Valley, the Sierra foothills, Northern Nevada and beyond, turning the South Shore into a midsummer gathering spot for sports fans, celebrity watchers and golf followers alike.
Set against the backdrop of Lake Tahoe and the mountain ridgeline, the American Century Championship has become much more than a golf tournament. For many attendees, it is part sporting event, part summer festival and part Tahoe tradition, with galleries moving from hole to hole while boats gather along the shoreline near Edgewood’s famed 17th hole.
This year’s field again brings together current and former stars from the NFL, NBA, NHL and Major League Baseball, along with actors, comedians, musicians, broadcasters and television personalities. NBC Sports announced that more than 80 participants are entered, including defending champion Joe Pavelski, 2023 champion Stephen Curry, three-time champion Tony Romo, two-time champion Mardy Fish and longtime fan favorite Charles Barkley.
The tournament will be played as a three-day, 54-hole competition with a $750,000 purse, including $150,000 to the winner, along with a charity component supporting local and national nonprofits. Since its start in 1990, the championship has donated more than $8 million to charity and nonprofit organizations.
For many regional fans, the Tahoe tournament has become an annual chance to see athletes and entertainers in a far different setting than an arena, stadium, stage or television studio. The course’s walkable layout and relaxed atmosphere have helped make the event one of celebrity golf’s most recognizable stops, with fans able to watch former MVPs, Hall of Famers, actors and musicians compete while still embracing the lighthearted tone that has made the tournament popular for decades.
This year’s tournament also has a strong Northern California connection. Stephen Curry returns to Edgewood as the 2023 champion, joined by his father, Dell Curry, and brother Seth Curry, who is listed in the field as a Golden State Warriors guard. Sacramento Kings All-Star Zach LaVine is also entered, giving Kings fans and regional NBA followers another name to watch during the week.
The football side of the field includes several names familiar to Bay Area and Northern California fans, including Hall of Fame 49ers wide receiver Jerry Rice, Hall of Fame quarterback Steve Young and 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk. Raiders fans will also find a deep group of familiar names, including Marcus Allen, Tim Brown, Charles Woodson, Jerry Rice, Derek Carr and Davante Adams.
Among the new storylines this year is the addition of three members of the gold medal-winning U.S. Olympic men’s hockey team from the 2026 Milan Olympics. Matthew Boldy and brothers Matthew Tkachuk and Brady Tkachuk are scheduled to be grouped together during Friday’s opening round, adding another layer of attention to a field that already includes stars from across nearly every corner of sports and entertainment.
First-time participants announced by NBC Sports include Baltimore Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton, Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald, ABC and ESPN broadcaster Sean McDonough, Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell, Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard, NBA Hall of Fame coach Doc Rivers, Tennessee Titans head coach Robert Saleh, Florida Panthers winger Brady Tkachuk and country musician Brett Young.
The tournament will again use the Modified Stableford scoring format, which rewards aggressive play by assigning points based on a player’s score on each hole. The format helps keep the event competitive while still allowing players to take chances, especially on a course where the crowd and scenery are part of the experience.
Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course, a George Fazio design on the South Shore, has been part of the championship’s identity since the tournament began. The lakeside holes are among the event’s most recognizable settings, particularly the 17th, where the tournament’s mix of competitive golf and fan interaction is often at its peak.
That hole has become one of the event’s defining scenes. Boats line the shoreline while spectators crowd near the green, creating a summer atmosphere that separates the American Century Championship from a traditional golf tournament. Players often interact with spectators, toss souvenirs, trade jokes and take part in the kind of informal moments that have become a signature of the week.
This year’s broadcast schedule begins Friday, July 10, with live coverage on Peacock and NBCSN from noon to 3 p.m. Pacific time. Saturday and Sunday coverage will air live on NBC and Peacock from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Pacific time each day.
Daily tickets are available online only through the official American Century Championship ticketing channel. Wednesday and Thursday pro-am day tickets are listed at $50 each, while Friday through Sunday tournament round tickets are $60 each day. A weeklong grounds badge valid Wednesday through Sunday is listed at $175. Organizers note that tickets are limited, all sales are final and no same-day tickets will be sold at the gate. Children 10 and younger receive free admission with a paid adult, limited to one child per adult.
Active duty military, reservists, National Guard members, military retirees and veterans are eligible for one complimentary ticket and one complimentary guest ticket for either Wednesday or Thursday, subject to availability.
For spectators heading to Tahoe, organizers advise that all tickets be purchased in advance and that ticket confirmations with QR codes be ready at the main spectator entrance. Daily tickets do not allow re-entry. Only clear bags are allowed on the course, and pets are not permitted except for service animals. Paid parking is available at designated South Shore properties, and parking is not allowed on Lake Parkway. Free bike valet is also being provided by the Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition, and Lake Link micro-transit is available in the area.
Tournament week also includes several special events and sponsor activations. The Korbel Long Drive Competition is scheduled for Thursday, July 9, at the 16th hole. The annual Korbel Hole-in-One contest returns to the 17th hole, one of the tournament’s best-known locations. American Century Investments is also offering $1 million for a hole-in-one on No. 17 during the three competitive rounds, split with the Stowers Institute for Medical Research.
American Century Investments has served as title sponsor of the championship since 1998, continuing its partnership with NBC Sports, the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority, Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course and the South Tahoe community.
The tournament’s staying power has come from both its field and its setting. Unlike many celebrity events, the American Century Championship has developed a competitive identity of its own, with former athletes and entertainers returning year after year to chase the title. Jack Wagner and Jim McMahon remain two of the tournament’s most enduring figures, with both listed among the only players to have competed in every edition.
Pavelski returns as defending champion after winning the 2025 title, while Curry comes back two years removed from his 2023 victory that drew national attention. Romo, Fish, Sorenstam, Smoltz and Lowe are among the names expected to be competitive again, while Barkley remains one of the tournament’s most recognizable crowd favorites regardless of where he sits on the leaderboard.
Sorenstam’s return gives the field one of its most accomplished golfers. The World Golf Hall of Famer is making her seventh appearance in the tournament. She finished seventh in 2025, third in 2024 and second in 2014, and has never finished outside the top 10 at the event.
The full 2026 participant list, as released by NBC Sports and marked as of July 3, includes Davante Adams — NFL All-Pro WR, Los Angeles Rams; Marcus Allen — Hall of Fame NFL RB; Ray Allen — NBA Hall of Famer; Anthony Anderson — actor, comedian and TV host; Bret Baier — Fox News chief political anchor; Nate Bargatze — standup comic; Charles Barkley — NBA Hall of Famer; Brian Baumgartner — actor; Jerome Bettis — NFL Hall of Famer; Jay Bilas — ESPN college basketball analyst; Matt Boldy — NHL forward, Minnesota Wild, gold medalist; Drew Brees — NFL Hall of Fame quarterback; Tim Brown — Hall of Fame wide receiver; Derek Carr — former NFL Pro Bowl QB; Vince Carter — NBA Hall of Famer; Alex Caruso — NBA guard, Oklahoma City Thunder; Roger Clemens — former MLB All-Star pitcher; Vince Coleman — former MLB All-Star outfielder; Stephen Curry — NBA MVP, Golden State Warriors; Seth Curry — NBA guard, Golden State Warriors; Dell Curry — former NBA guard; Carson Daly — host, Today Show and The Voice; Vinny Del Negro — former NBA guard and coach; Jay DeMarcus — singer and musician; Rich Eisen — host, NFL Gameday Morning; Cathy Engelbert — WNBA commissioner; Mardy Fish — Olympic silver medalist and U.S. Davis Cup captain; Larry Fitzgerald — former NFL Pro Bowl WR; Ryan Fitzpatrick — former NFL quarterback; Bobby Flay — celebrity chef and TV personality; Dexter Fowler — former MLB outfielder and 2016 World Series champion; Dwight Freeney — NFL Hall of Fame defensive end; Kyle Hamilton — First Team All-Pro safety, Baltimore Ravens; Chris Harrison — TV host; A.J. Hawk — former NFL linebacker; Grant Hill — NBA analyst and former All-Star; Colin Jost — SNL cast member and writer; Kyle Juszczyk — NFL Pro Bowl FB, San Francisco 49ers; Jason Kelce — former NFL All-Pro center; Trevor Lawrence — NFL Pro Bowl QB, Jacksonville Jaguars; Zach LaVine — two-time NBA All-Star, Sacramento Kings; Hally Leadbetter — golf host and content creator; Derek Lowe — former MLB All-Star pitcher; Kyle Lowry — NBA All-Star, Philadelphia 76ers; Rob Mac — football club owner and actor, Always Sunny; Mike Macdonald — NFL head coach, Seattle Seahawks; Joe Mauer — former MLB All-Star; Baker Mayfield — NFL QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers; Sean McDonough — announcer, ABC and ESPN; Jim McMahon — former NFL All-Pro quarterback; Kevin Millar — former MLB first baseman and outfielder; The Miz — WWE superstar; Kevin O’Connell — NFL head coach, Minnesota Vikings; John O’Hurley — actor, Seinfeld; T.J. Oshie — former NHL forward; Jake Owen — country music artist; Joe Pavelski — former NHL All-Star; Michael Peña — actor; Patrick Peterson — former Pro Bowl cornerback; Austin Reaves — NBA guard, Los Angeles Lakers; Alfonso Ribeiro — actor; Jerry Rice — Pro Football Hall of Fame WR; Rob Riggle — actor and comedian; Doc Rivers — NBA Hall of Fame coach; Ray Romano — actor and comedian; Tony Romo — former Pro Bowl QB, Dallas Cowboys; Joe Don Rooney — lead guitarist, Rascal Flatts; Robert Saleh — Tennessee Titans head coach; Jason Scheff — former lead singer, Chicago; Gary Sheffield — former MLB All-Star; John Smoltz — Hall of Fame pitcher; Annika Sorenstam — 10-time LPGA major champion and eight-time player of the year; Kathryn Tappen — NBC Sports reporter; Miles Teller — actor, Whiplash and Top Gun: Maverick; Larry the Cable Guy — actor and comedian; Joe Theismann — former Super Bowl champion quarterback; Adam Thielen — former NFL Pro Bowl wide receiver; Brady Tkachuk — four-time NHL All-Star forward, Florida Panthers; Matthew Tkachuk — NHL All-Star, Florida Panthers; Taylor Twellman — soccer TV personality; Brian Urlacher — Hall of Fame NFL linebacker; Chase Utley — former MLB All-Star; Jack Wagner — actor, Hallmark Channel; DeMarcus Ware — Hall of Fame NFL defensive end; David Wells — former MLB All-Star pitcher; Andrew Whitworth — former NFL Pro Bowl OT and Super Bowl champion; Trey Wingo — sportscaster and podcast host; Charles Woodson — Hall of Fame NFL CB; Brett Young — country recording artist; and Steve Young — NFL Hall of Fame QB.
With names from every major sport and entertainment field, the tournament again offers something for nearly every type of fan. Some will follow the leaderboard. Others will make the trip for the chance to see Curry, Barkley, Romo, Pavelski, Sorenstam, Rice, Young, LaVine or the many actors and entertainers in the field. Many will simply take in one of Tahoe’s most recognizable summer scenes.
For the South Shore, the week is also an economic and tourism driver, filling hotels, restaurants, casinos and lakefront areas as visitors arrive for several days of golf and entertainment. For Sacramento-area fans, the event remains one of the closest opportunities to see a national sports broadcast and celebrity field in person, all within a mountain drive from the valley.
The American Century Championship begins Wednesday with pro-am activity and continues through Sunday’s final round at Edgewood Tahoe. Folsom Times’ Bryan Greenwalt is in South Lake Tahoe this week and will provide daily coverage and an inside look and the local fans the event draws. For more information, tickets and tournament updates, visit AmericanCenturyChampionship.com.
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