Familiar faces and former champions are at the top of the betting odds for next week’s American Century Championship celebrity golf tournament, with the defending champion coming in at fourth and superstar Annika Sorenstam among the top six.
Former NFL quarterback Tony Romo and ex-tennis pro Mardy Fish are the co-favorites for the 33rd edition of the ACC, coming in at plus-2.75 to win the event (bet $1 to win $2.75) Thursday afternoon at oddsmaker William Hill. Former MLB pitcher John Smoltz is third (plus-4.50).
Romo won the event in 2018 and 2019, with Fish claiming his first ACC title in 2020.
The 2022 ACC runs Friday through Sunday at Edgewood Tahoe. The 54-hole tournament uses a Stableford scoring system, which awards points for positive results such as birdies and eagles, rather than a traditional total-strokes format.
Vinny Del Negro, last year’s winner with 69 points over three rounds, is fourth on the odds sheet, at plus-5.00.
Mark Mulder (6.50) and former LPGA star Sorenstam (8.00) round out the top six. Sorenstam won 74 LPGA events, including 10 majors, during her full-time playing days on the tour. She is one of four female players currently listed in the field, with TV personalities Kira Dixon, Dylan Dryer and Kathryn Tappen the others.
Steph Curry of the NBA champion Golden State Warriors is tied for seventh at 12.00.
Actor Jack Wagner is the first non-athlete on the list, coming in tied for ninth at 16.00. Wagner was the ACC champion in 2006 and 2011.
Former NBA star and current basketball commentator Charles Barkley anchors the list at 7500.00. A $2 bet on Barkley (the minimum wager at most Nevada sportsbooks) would return $15,002.
American Century Championship
When: July 6-10
Where: Edgewood Tahoe
TV: Golf, NBC Sports, and NBC
Format: 54 holes, Stableford scoring
Purse: $600,000
Tickets: Full passes are sold out; daily passes are $40 ($30 Wednesday and Thursday). For 2022, all ticket sales are online (americancenturychampionship.com).
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