The global fight against cancer will share the spotlight with the most
recognizable and star-studded field in celebrity golf.
Returning players
include Michael Jordan, Dan Marino, Charles Barkley, Tony Romo, Ben
Roethlisberger, Ray Romano, Mario Lemieux, Lawrence Taylor, Dale Jarrett
and Jerry Rice. They’ll be joined by tournament newcomers Matt Cassel,
Ozzie Smith, Matt Leinart and Wade Phillips.
Annually, the leaderboard includes the likes of Jordan, Elway, Romo and
Taylor along with previous champions like Lemieux and Rick Rhoden, who has
started more than 30 PGA Champions Tour events since he turned 50 years
old.
The LIVESTRONG Global Cancer Campaign seeks to end the stigma associated
with cancer and turn cancer victims into survivors build an international
grassroots movement that will take cancer from isolation to collaboration
and work with world leaders to transform cancer from obscurity to priority.
The Campaign coincides with LAF founder Lance Armstrong’s return to cycling
and will culminate with an international cancer summit in Dublin, Ireland,
August 24-26.
“The Lance Armstrong Foundation will be a primary focus of the tournament
this year,” said Jon Miller, executive vice president of NBC Sports. “The
American Century Championship has a long history of supporting important
causes. That effort goes to the next level in 2009 as we celebrate our
20th anniversary by encouraging everyone to join in the fight against
cancer.”
The 54-hole American Century Championship has been played at Edgewood
Tahoe’s 6,707-yard lakeside course since its inception in 1990. Defending
champion Rhoden counts 2008 as his seventh win. Past champions include
Chris Chandler, Jack Wagner, Billy Joe Tolliver, Lemieux and Mark Rypien.
Rhoden’s toughest competition may come from four-time winner Dan Quinn, who
fell just one point shy of capturing his 5th title.
The American Century Championship will award $600,000 in prize money, with
$125,000 to the winner. Scoring is based on a modified Stableford format
with 10 points for a double eagle, 8 for a hole-in-one, 6 for eagle, 3 for
birdie, 1 for par, 0 for bogey, and minus 2 for double-bogey or higher.
Tickets are available in advance and daily at the gate. Prices are $15 each
day for the Lake Tahoe Celebrity-Amateur on Tuesday, July 14, the practice
round on Wednesday, July 15, and for the American Century Celebrity-Am on
Thursday, July 16 and $25 for each day of the Friday through Sunday
tournament, July 17, 18 and 19. A Season Pass for $60 provides admission
for all six days of the event. Children 10 and under are free with a paid
adult. For tournament tickets, information and lodging packages, visit:
.
NBC Sports will televise the second and final rounds of the tournament live
on Saturday, July 18 from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. PT/ 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. ET and
Sunday, July 19 from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. PT/ 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. ET. The
opening round will be televised on ESPN2 on Friday, July 17.