American Century Championship

The American Century Championship is slated for July 17-22, 2012. The 22nd annual tournament at Edgewood Tahoe had a record-breaking year in 2011with more than 40,000 spectators in attendance and millions of viewers on VERSUS and NBC Sports. A full schedule of players and events has not been released yet; check back for more information.

Last year saw one of the strongest celebrity fields in the golf tournament's 22-year history. Super Bowl MVP Aaron Rodgers will join Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, Rex Ryan, Tony Romo, Jerry Rice, Jimmer Fredette and a reunion of one of baseball's greatest pitching rotations: Greg Maddox, Tom Glavine and John Smoltz in the field of 78 sports and entertainment stars at Edgewood Tahoe for the 54-hole, $600,000 tournament on NBC Sports.

Celebrity sightings, parties and superstar entertainment were on tap for South Lake Tahoe during the week-long festivities. Newcomers in 2011 included Ryan, the volatile New York Jets head coach; Jimmer Fredette, All-American scoring guard for Brigham Young University; Martin Brodeur, NHL All Star of the New Jersey Devils; Arian Foster, Houston Texans All-Pro running back; Deron Williams, New Jersey Nets All-Star guard; former Major League All-Stars Goose Gossage of the Yankees and Tom Glavine, Atlanta Braves; actors Tim Matheson of "Animal House" and Rob Morrow of television dramas "Numb3rs" and "Northern Exposure."

The American Century Championship awarded $600,000 in prize money, with the tournament winner receiving $125,000. 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. The 54-hole tournament has been played at Edgewood Tahoe's 6,707-yard lakeside course since its inception in 1990.

The arts and entertainment fields are represented by actors Matheson and Morrow, Jack Wagner, Ray Romano; Dennis Haysbert; John O'Hurley and Bruce McGill.

The National Football League's shooting stars include the aforementioned Rodgers, Rice and Romo; plus Emmitt Smith, Hall of Famer and Dallas Cowboys great; Marshall Faulk, heading to Canton for induction this summer; A.J. Hawk of the Packers; Carson Palmer of the Bengals; Rodney Harrison, former All-Pro safety; and Matt Schaub, Houston Texans QB.

Basketball will be represented by Jordan and Barkley as well as Ray Allen, Boston Celtics; Jason Kidd, Dallas Mavericks; Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors; Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets; Shane Battier, Houston Rockets; retired star Anfernee Hardaway; Los Angeles Clippers head coach Vinny Del Negro; and tournament newcomer Williams of the New Jersey Nets.

Hockey checks in with Brett Hull, Jeremy Roenick, Grant Fuhr, 1980 Olympic Gold Medal winner and team captain Mike Eruzione.

The NFL coaching ranks include Ryan, mentioned above; Mike Shanahan, Washington Redskins; Jack Del Rio, Jacksonville Jaguars; and Ken Whisenhunt, Arizona Cardinals; and Herm Edwards, ESPN analyst.

They will be joined by Kenny Lofton, Bret Saberhagen, Vince Coleman, Joe Carter, Ozzie Smith and Rhoden, the former MLB pitcher who is the American Century Championship's all-time leading money winner with $1,136,474.

2011 ticket information: Tickets are available online and daily at the gate. Prices are $15 each day for the Lake Tahoe Celebrity-Amateur on Tuesday, July 12, the practice round on Wednesday, July 13, and for the American Century Celebrity-Amateur on Thursday, July 14; 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.

Learn more: www.TahoeCelebrityGolf.com.