Countdown to American Century Championship: Tony Romo a 5-2 favorite, Mardy Fish follows at 11-4
Submitted by paula on Sat, 07/01/2023 - 6:25pm
LAKE TAHOE, Nev. - Defending champion Tony Romo is once again the betting favorite to win the American Century Championship next month, according to Caesars Sportsbook. Steph Curry, Annika Sorenstam, and John Smoltz are also among the contenders as the 34th annual celebrity golf competition returns for its national television showcase July 14-16 in Lake Tahoe.
Caesars Sportsbook has pegged Romo, the CBS NFL analyst and reigning champ, as a 5-2 favorite to win the three-day tournament at Edgewood Tahoe, Mardy Fish, the former top-ranked American tennis player, is next at 11-4, followed by three-time champion and former MLB All-Star pitcher Mark Mulder at 5-1.
The 54-hole tournament features nearly 90 sports/entertainment stars competing for $600,000 in prize money.
The top active pro athlete on the board is Dallas Stars’ right winger Joe Pavelski, who is listed at 8-1 alongside Hall of Fame pitcher and Fox MLB analyst John Smoltz. Annika Sorenstam, the most accomplished player in the history of women’s golf, is also 8-1. Steph Curry, the Golden State Warriors superstar who has two fourth-place finishes in recent years, is the next active pro athlete on the board at 12-1.
TNT NBA analyst Charles Barkley, arguably the most popular player in the tournament every year, is a super long shot at 7,500-1. Caesars Sportsbook has a range of annual proposition bets for the tournament, including Barkley to finish 70th or better currently at +350 (YES) or -470 (No).
GOLF Channel airs the tournament in primetime on Friday, July 14, from 9:30-11:30 p.m. EST (tape delay). Live coverage of the second and final round airs on NBC Saturday and Sunday from 2:30-6 p.m. EST both days. The tournament has raised more than $7 million for charity over the years.
Other prominent players and their odds include Super Bowl Champion and Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (200-1), New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (45-1), Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (350-1), New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr (500-1), Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams (250-1), Super Bowl Champion and Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (1000-1), Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (250-1), Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel (1,000-1), Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson (200-1), NFL free agent placekicker Robbie Gould (200-1), NBC’s Today Show meteorologist Dylan Dreyer (5,000-1), Pro Football Hall-of-Fame quarterback John Elway (350-1) and Saturday Night Live’s Colin Jost (5,000-1). Zach LaVine (250-1), the Chicago Bulls guard, is among six newcomers to the field in 2023.
The other active athletes and their odds are Washington Capitals forward T.J. Oshie (25-1), Carolina Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen (28-1), New Jersey Nets guard Seth Curry (350-1), Miami Heat guard Kyle Lowry (2000-1) and Minnesota Vikings defensive back Patrick Peterson (250-1). The full odds offering is below.
In addition to his triumph last year, Romo won the American Century Championship title in 2018 and 2019, immediately after retiring from football, following three second-place finishes during his active playing days. Fish, former U.S. Davis Cup Captain, took the title in 2020. The 2021 champion, Vinny Del Negro, is also among the contenders at 12-1.
Both Romo and Smoltz have competed in PGA TOUR events against the best players in the world in addition to their annual battle to win the American Century Championship. Smoltz has started several PGA TOUR Champions events (age 50 and above) and, in 2018, he qualified for and competed in the U.S. Senior Open, an accomplishment that stunned professional golf media experts.
Romo played in three PGA TOUR events in 2019, including the AT&T Byron Nelson in Dallas. Smoltz has twice won the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions celebrity tournament (2019-20) in Orlando, Florida. Fish is a three-time winner of that tournament. Romo won the Invited Celebrity Classic celebrity division this past April.
The 2023 American Century Championship will utilize the Modified Stableford format with points awarded per hole as follows: Double Eagle – 10; Ace – 8; Eagle – 6; Birdie – 3; Par – 1; Bogey – 0; Double Bogey – (-2).
For the latest details, photos, celebrity tweets and fan contests using #ACCgolf go to @ACChampionship on Twitter and Instagram, and Facebook. For tournament information: www.AmericanCenturyChampionship.com.