Justin Timberlake returns to Tahoe to play in American Century Championship

For the third consecutive year, musician and actor Justin Timberlake will compete in this year’s American Century Championship celebrity golf tournament at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course.

Timberlake made his debut at the tournament in 2015 and has had the largest crowds in each of the last two events. The highly-decorated performer is an avid golfer who plays to a 4-handicap and is renowned in the sport for his philanthropic endeavors.

Timberlake joins a lineup of 90 sports and entertainment celebrities, including TNT NBA analyst and Hall of Famer Charles Barkley; former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo; NFL MVP and Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers; newly-retired former NFL standout and Heisman Trophy winner Charles Woodson; and a host of current pro athletes and NFL and MLB Hall of Famers.

The 28th annual tournament runs from July 14-16 at Edgewood, a Golf Digest Top 100 rated course on the shores of the largest alpine lake in North America. The event, which has raised more than $4 million for multiple national and area charities and offers free admission to military personnel and guests, will be broadcast on NBC Sports, NBCSN and Golf Channel.

Timberlake, who has been paired with Steph Curry and Alfonso Ribeiro the last two seasons, finished last year’s tournament in 21st place with 35 points in the modified Stableford format. In 2015, he finished in 34th place with 20 points.

Timberlake was turned onto the tournament by Barkley and has been a crowd favorite ever since.

“I said, ‘If you play one time, you will never miss the tournament again'”, Barkley recalled. “He brings so much energy to the tournament”.

One of today’s most successful recording artists, Timberlake’s work has earned him 10 Grammy Awards and four Emmy Awards. As an actor, Timberlake has appeared in Academy Award-nominated The Social Network as well as Friends With Benefits, Bad Teacher, Trouble With The Curve and Inside Llewelyn Davis. He received his first Oscar nomination this year for the song “Can’t Stop the Feeling!”

Other prominent competitors chasing the $125,000 first prize include John Elway, Marshall Faulk, Roger Clemens, Jerry Rice, Larry the Cable Guy and two-time defending champion Mark Mulder. First-time NFL competitors will include Woodson, Travis Kelce, Doug Pederson, Mike Zimmer and Adam Thielen.

RGJ