Golf Legend Annika Sorenstam, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, San Francisco 49er George Kittle, Today Show’s Dylan Dreyer and NBC’s Kathryn Tappen
Highlight Array of Well-Known Women and First-Timers
May 21, 2025 (SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, California/Nevada) — The American Century Championship celebrity golf tournament will welcome a field of legends, trailblazers, and champions to Lake Tahoe’s Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course this summer. Tournament officials announced that golf icon Annika Sorenstam, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, All-Pro NFL tight end George Kittle, Today show host and meteorologist Dylan Dreyer, and NBC Sports and NHL Network’s Kathryn Tappen will headline the celebrated women and newcomers division of the tournament, taking place July 9–13. AmerianCenturyChampionship.com
Among the lineup of women, Annika Sorenstam — an 11-time major champion and one of the most accomplished golfers in history — returns to the field after a third-place overall finish in last year’s tournament. With 72 LPGA titles and 90 international wins to her name, Sorenstam remains a perennial favorite and a serious contender atop the leaderboard.
Joining her is tournament newcomer Cathy Engelbert, the Commissioner of the WNBA and the first woman to serve as CEO of a Big Four professional services firm, Deloitte. Engelbert brings not only executive leadership to the event, but also a strong competitive spirit, having played both Division 1 basketball and lacrosse at Lehigh University. Since taking the reins of the WNBA in 2019, Engelbert has overseen an era of unprecedented growth, including record-setting revenue, attendance, and television viewership.
George Kittle, the charismatic and dominant tight end for the San Francisco 49ers, enters the championship for the first time. A six-time Pro Bowler known for his energy, toughness, and leadership, Kittle joins a stacked field of more than 80 sports and entertainment stars — ranging from current NFL athletes to Hall of Famers — all competing for $750,000 in prize money and raising funds for local and national charities.
Joining Sorenstam and Engelbert among the women are Dylan Dreyer, a fan-favorite broadcaster and meteorologist from NBC’s Today show, and Kathryn Tappen, a seasoned and respected voice in sports media, currently featured on NBC Sports and the NHL Network. Both women bring poise, passion, and growing reputations on the course to this year’s tournament.
Set for telecast on NBC, GOLF Channel, and Peacock, the 54-hole competition takes place Friday-Sunday, July 11-13, with the week’s activities kicking off on Wednesday, July 10, with celebrity-amateur activities. Among the biggest names returning for 2025 are Charles Barkley, Aaron Rodgers, John Smoltz, Nate Bargatze, both Travis and Jason Kelce, plus defending champion Mardy Fish.
The tournament has raised more than $8 million for regional and national charities, with this year’s champion set to take home a $150,000 first-place prize. More than 70,000 fans are expected to gather along the picturesque shores of Lake Tahoe, creating an electric atmosphere at one of the most scenic stops in all of golf.
Contact:
Steve Griffith
Vizion Group
484-433-7757 (East Coast)
sgriffith@VizionGroup.net
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About the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority
With more than 75 plaudits and accolades from national media outlets, Visit Lake Tahoe combines the distinctive appeal of two worlds: unparalleled natural beauty and an array of world-class outdoor recreation, entertainment, nightlife and gaming. As a responsible tourism destination, it offers a balanced approach regarding social and environmental impacts to preserve its appeal for generations. For information about lodging, recreation, events, and mindful travel at Visit Lake Tahoe, call 1-530-542-4637 or log onto www.VisitLakeTahoe.com.
About American Century Investments – Tournament Title Sponsor
American Century Investments is a leading global asset manager focused on delivering investment results and building long-term client relationships while supporting breakthrough medical research. Founded in 1958, American Century Investments’ 1,400 employees serve financial professionals, institutions, corporations and individual investors from offices in New York; London; Frankfurt; Hong Kong; Sydney; Santa Clara, Calif.; and Kansas City, Mo. Jonathan S. Thomas is president and chief executive officer, and Victor Zhang serves as chief investment officer. Delivering investment results to clients enables American Century Investments to distribute over 40% of its dividends to the Stowers Institute for Medical Research, a 500-person, nonprofit basic biomedical research organization. The Institute owns more than 40% of American Century Investments and has received dividend payments of $2 billion since 2000. For more information about American Century Investments, visit www.americancentury.com.
About NBC Sports
NBC Sports connects sports fans to the moments that matter most with premier live events, insightful studio shows, and compelling original programming. As the sports division of NBCUniversal, NBC Sports produces, programs, and promotes premier content across numerous linear and digital platforms, including NBC and Peacock. NBC Sports possesses an unparalleled collection of media rights agreements, partnering and presenting many of the most prestigious sports properties in the world: the International Olympic Committee, International Paralympic Committee, United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee, the NFL, NBA, WNBA, Big Ten Conference, Big East Conference, Notre Dame, NASCAR, PGA TOUR, USGA, PGA of America, The R&A, Churchill Downs, Premier League, and many more. It is renowned for making big events bigger and has produced some of the most-watched sporting events in U.S. media history, including Olympic Games, Super Bowls, and Sunday Night Football, primetime television’s No. 1 show for 14 consecutive years.