Predictions for Steph Curry, Aaron Rodgers, Kelce, Top Stars at American Century Golf
Fans of celebrity golf have had no shortage of viewing options in recent years. Events like The Match and The Showdown, however, have featured smaller head-to-head formats. This weekend, one of the most iconic celebrity tournaments will return to Lake Tahoe with a more traditional flavor.
The American Century Championship was first held in 1990, and over the past three decades it has featured some of the top celebrity golfers in the world. Recent winners include former NFL quarterback Tony Romo, current NBA star Stephen Curry and former Tennis standout Mardy Fish—all of whom will be in this year's tournament.
The annual three-round event will feature several other notable sports figures and non-athlete entertainers, will provide fans with many exciting moments and, most importantly, will benefit charities like the Stowers Institute for Medical Research.
Here's a look at what's ahead, along with a few predictions.
2025 American Century Championship
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Where: Edgewood Tahoe Resort
When: July 11 - 13
Prize Purse: $750,000 ($150,000 to winner)
TV and Live Stream Schedule (all times ET)
Friday: 4 - 6 p.m. on Peacock, 8:30 - 10:30 p.m. on Golf Channel
Saturday: 2:30 - 6 p.m. on NBC, Peacock
Sunday: 2:30 - 6 p.m. ET on NBC, Peacock
Notable Participants and Odds
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A few notable celebrities aren't scheduled to appear this weekend, including Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who has participated in both this tournament and The Match. According to Jim Krajewski of the Reno Gazette-Journal, boxer Canelo Alvarez and NFL Hall of Famer Steve Young were scheduled to appear but have since withdrawn.
Fans will still get to see plenty of famous faces on the course in the coming days.
The list of 2025 participants includes Romo, Curry, Fish, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce, Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves, Florida Panthers star Matthew Tkachuk, comedian Rob Riggle and actor Miles Teller.
NBA Hall of Famer and Inside the NBA star Charles Barkley, who has become a fixture of celebrity golfing events, is also scheduled to participate.
The early favorites, according to Caesars Sportsbook via americancenturychampionship.com are:
Stephen Curry +240 (bet $100 to win $240)
Mardy Fish +240
Joe Pavelski +300
Tony Romo +450
John Smoltz +550
Annika Sorenstam +650
Mark Mulder +650
Preview and Predictions
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While it's always fun to watch stars like Kelce, Barkley, actor Alfonso Ribeiro and comedian Nate Bargatze take the course, it's worth noting that many celebrities won't have a realistic chance at winning the American Century Championship.
The par-72 course demands a high level of golf, and the three-round modified Stableford point-scoring format will make it virtually impossible for anyone to luck into a tournament win.
Under the current format, a score of three-under-par is worth 10 points, a hold-in-one is worth eight points, an eagle is worth six points, a birdie is worth three points and a par is worth one point. A bogey is worth zero points while a double-bogey or worse is worth minus-two points.
Fish, a two-time champion, won last year's tournament with a score of 83.
Consistency matters, and players like Barkley and the Kelce brothers probably won't be in the mix on Sunday—Barkley, Travis Kelce and Jason Kelce finished last year's tournament 58th, 63rd and 87th respectively.
However, Curry has already shown that he's skilled enough to win it all, and Rodgers, who finished 15th last year, could be a contender. While the future Hall of Famer has recently been in the news for joining the Steelers post-NFL draft, he's long been an avid golfer who takes his game seriously.
"Aaron’s a guy that’s always looking for new ways to get better," PGA star Scottie Scheffler said in February, per Jake Mozarsky and Tom Gorski of The Arizona Republic.
Expect Rodgers to make a serious run this year, though the prediction here is that he'll fall just short on Sunday.
Prediction:
1. Stephen Curry
2. Annika Sörenstam
3. Tony Romo
4. Mardy Fish
5. Aaron Rodgers
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