Following fifth NBA Finals appearance, superstar a legitimate contender at Lake Tahoe celebrity golf tournament
June 19, 2019 (SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev.) – Steph Curry is returning to Lake Tahoe for the 30th annual American Century Championship, the celebrity golf tournament, July 9-14 at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course. (www.americancenturychampionship.com)
Curry, the Golden State Warriors two-time NBA Most Valuable Player, will be a headliner in a field of more than 90 superstar athletes and entertainers during the tournament televised on NBC Sports. He’ll be joining defending champion and NFL analyst Tony Romo, Charles Barkley, Aaron Rodgers, 16 Hall of Famers and 22 active athletes from a variety of sports as well as actors and comedians from the entertainment world.
Coming off his fifth consecutive NBA Finals appearance, Curry is considered among the favorites. Harrah’s and Harveys Race and Sports Book have installed him at 15-1 odds along with San Jose Sharks captain Joe Pavelski and former Sharks star Jeremy Roenick. Romo and John Smoltz, Atlanta Braves Hall of Famer are the co-favorites at 3-1, with three-time champion and former Oakland A’s pitcher Mark Mulder at 7-2. Curry played the past two years on a sponsor’s exemption at the Web.com Tour’s Ellie Mae Classic. He’s the fourth player in the ACC field to play on a professional tour in the past year. Mark Mulder and Tony Romo competed in PGA TOUR events, while John Smoltz qualified for last year’s U.S. Senior Open, and accepted exemptions for three Champions TOUR events this season.
Curry is also among the favorites attracting large galleries of Bay Area fans. He will be making his seventh appearance at the tournament, where he tied for 11th last year, with his best finishes in fourth place in 2017 and 2013. He made his American Century Championship debut in 2010 following his rookie season. An accomplished golfer, Curry will be looking for a title of a different sort in another sport bringing his prowess from the hardwood to the greens in search of the $125,000 winner’s share of the $600,000 purse.
The Warriors superstar will be joined by his father, Dell, making his fifth appearance, and teammate Andre Iguodala, playing for the second time at Tahoe. Other NBA notables include Hall of Famers Charles Barkley and Ray Allen, as well as Kyle Lowry of the newly-crowned champion Toronto Raptors.
Steph and Dell have not yet announced if their ongoing wager having the loser and his caddy dive into Lake Tahoe fully clothed will continue for a third year, or if fans can expect a new wrinkle. Dell remained dry last year when Steph’s fourth shot on No. 18 from the fairway just rolled past the cup.
The field of Hall of Famers also features Jerry Rice, Steve Young, Marcus Allen, Tim Brown, Ivan Rodriguez, Charles Woodson, Brian Urlacher, Trevor Hoffman, Jerome Bettis, Terrell Davis, Mike Modano, Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine. Athletes include 22 active players, among them nine All-Stars. Along with Mulder and Romo, past champions are two-time winners Mark Rypien and actor Jack Wagner.
Entertainers and comedians feature Larry the Cable Guy, Ray Romano, Alfonso Ribeiro, Willie Robertson, Wagner, Miles Teller, Rob Riggle, Brian Baumgartner, and Jay DeMarcus and Joe Don Rooney of Rascal Flatts.
Four women will compete: Kira Kazantsev, 2015 Miss America; Dylan Dreyer, Today Show meteorologist; Lisa Cornwell, Golf Channel host; and Kathryn Tappen, NHL on NBC host.
Six current NFL head coaches will be taking their final break prior to training camp, including first-timers Anthony Lynn, Chargers; Matt Nagy, Bears; Frank Reich, Colts; and Mike Vrabel, Titans; with returnees Doug Pederson, Eagles; and Sean Payton, Saints.
The annual tournament has raised more than $5 million for multiple national and area charities and offers free admission to military personnel and guests. With major television exposure (NBC Sports, NBCSN, Golf Channel) and a purse of $600,000, the American Century Championship is the most prestigious celebrity tournament in golf. The 2019 event tees off Friday-Sunday July 12-14 at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course, a Top 100 rated course on the shores of the largest alpine lake in North America.
Tickets are available at the gate for $20 each day Tuesday through Thursday, and $30 daily Friday through Sunday with advanced tickets available online. Kids 10 and under receive free admission – limit two, when accompanied by a paying adult. Active Duty, Reservists, National Guard, Military Retirees, and Veterans receive one complimentary ticket and one complimentary guest ticket for each day. Discounted daily tickets are also available at Raley’s, Bel Air or Nob Hill Foods locations throughout Northern California and Nevada.
For tournament information: www.AmericanCenturyChampionship.com. For lodging packages: www.TahoeSouth.com.
