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Strongest Field in Event’s 22-Year History Adds More Star Power
In what has grown to become one of the golf tournament’s strongest fields in 22-years, Tebow joins John Elway, the NFL Hall of Fame quarterback and current Broncos VP of Operations, Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, Super Bowl MVP Aaron Rodgers, Tony Romo and Jerry Rice among the list of pro athletes, coaches and celebrities from TV and film in this nationally-televised favorite on NBC Sports.
A first round draft pick by the Broncos last year, Tebow's impressive record as a college quarterback with the University of Florida Gators garnered two NCAA championships and several other notable awards.
During the 2007 season, Tebow was Florida's starting quarterback and became the first college football player to both rush and pass for 20 or more touchdowns in a single season. In addition, he became the first sophomore to win the Heisman Trophy. His 2007 performance also earned him the Maxwell Award as the nation's top football player, the Davey O'Brien Award as the best quarterback and the James E. Sullivan Award as the most outstanding amateur athlete in any sport. In 2008, Tebow led Florida to its second national championship in three years. He was named the offensive MVP of the championship game.
More than 80 sports and entertainment superstars will converge at this event, including newcomers Rex Ryan, the quotable New York Jets head coach; Martin Brodeur, NHL All Star of the New Jersey Devils; Deron Williams, New Jersey Nets All-Star guard; former Major League All-Stars Goose Gossage of the Yankees and Tom Glavine of the Atlanta Braves and actor Rob Morrow of television dramas Numb3rs and Northern Exposure.
Last year’s foursome of second place finishers: Romo, Dallas Cowboys QB; John Smoltz, former Atlanta Braves All-Star; John Elway, NFL Hall of Famer and Jack Wagner, actor, will push defending champion and former NFL QB Billy Joe Tolliver. There’s also eight-time winner Rick Rhoden and four-time champion Dan Quinn.
The American Century Championship will award $600,000 in prize money, with the winner receiving $125,000. Scoring is based on a modified Stableford format.
Tournament title sponsor American Century Investments, is a leading, privately-controlled investment management firm serving professionals, institutions, corporations and individuals. Through its ownership, structure, more than 40 percent of company profits support research to help find cures for genetically-based diseases including cancer, diabetes and dementia.
For the sixth consecutive year, the American Century Championship is proud to be supporting the Lance Armstrong Foundation, the organization established in 1997 by the cancer survivor and champion cyclist to serve people living with cancer and empower communities to take action. The foundation is now known publicly by its powerful brand — LIVESTRONGâ — and is a leader in the global movement on behalf of 28 million people around the world living with cancer today. Since the tournament’s inception in 1990, more than $3 million has been raised for a variety of national and local charities.
NBC Sports and Versus will televise the tournament live on Friday, Saturday and Sunday on the week of the event:
Friday, 4 pm. to 7 pm. ET, 1 pm. to 4 pm. PT (live) on Versus
Saturday, 3 pm. to 6 pm. ET, 12 pm. to 3 pm. PT (live) on NBC
Sunday, 3 pm. to 6 pm. ET, 12 pm. to 3 pm. PT (live) on NBC
Friday coverage will be re-broadcast Saturday from 12 noon to 2 pm. ET, 9 am. to 11 am. PT on Golf Channel.
Tickets are available for advance purchase online and daily at the gate. Prices are $15 each day for the Lake Tahoe Celebrity-Amateur on Tuesday, the practice round on Wednesday, and for the American Century Celebrity-Amateur on Thursday, and $25 for each tournament round, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. A Season Pass for $60 provides admission for all six days of the event. Kids 10 and under are free with a paid adult. Discounted tickets for tournament rounds Friday through Sunday will be available starting June 1 at participating Raley’s, Nob Hill and Bel Air Foods supermarkets.
For tournament tickets, information and lodging package visit Harrah’s Lake Tahoe and Harveys Lake Tahoe websites, which are celebrity-central during the event as the official host hotels.
To join the fun and stay in touch between now and tournament time, the American Century Championship is also on Facebook and Twitter. Find us to read up on the latest details of the tournament, celebrity tweets, fan contests and more.
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