Harrah's Lake Tahoe picks Tony Romo as favorite to win American Century Championship
Submitted by Jeff Munson on Tue, 06/05/2012 - 3:39pm
Tony Romo, the star quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys and renowned amateur golfer, is the top choice of Harrah’s Lake Tahoe Sportsbook to win the 23nd annual American Century Championship celebrity golf tournament.
The now married 32 year-old, a new father, is listed at 5-2, ahead of perennial favorite Rick Rhoden (4-1), the former Major League Baseball pitcher who has won the American Century Championship eight times and started 33 tournaments on the PGA Champions Tour.
Romo finished second each of the past three years, losing on the final hole to actor Jack Wagner last year; and to former NFL quarterback Billy Joe Tolliver in 2009 and 2010. The tournament is set for July 20-22 at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course and will be televised live by NBC Sports Network on Friday and by NBC Sports on Saturday and Sunday.
“Tony Romo is a talented golfer and his focus should be stronger than ever this year with the new wife and baby providing that calming influence,” offered Harrah’s Sportsbook Director Steve Schorr. “He’s been knocking on the door since he started playing here in 2007 and he’s probably ready now to kick it in.”
Romo’s ascension marks only the second time that Rhoden hasn’t been the Nevada sportsbooks’ pre-tournament choice since 1992. In 2006, the 59 year-old was ineligible because he won the Champions Tour Q School Tournament and earned playing privileges on the PGA’s 50-and-over tour. The American Century Championship was launched in 1990 with former Washington Redskins quarterback Mark Rypien winning the title. Rhoden, who pitched for the Yankees, Dodgers and five other Major League teams, then won in 1991, ’93, ’95 , ’97, ’99, ’03, ’07 and ’08.
Tolliver, a three-time champion at Lake Tahoe, is the third choice at 9-2 with former Atlanta Braves’ Cy Young Award-winner John Smoltz at 5-1. Listed fifth is Dan Quinn, the former National Hockey League star who now caddies for PGA Tour standout Ernie Els for most of Els’ American tournaments. Quinn has won the tournament four times. Another notable name among the top players is John Elway, the Denver Broncos former star quarterback and now general manager, a perennial contender at 12-1. Defending champion Wagner, who was away from the golf course this spring while competing in Dancing With The Stars, is listed in sixth position at 8-1.
Among the other big-name players available for public wagering are Michael Jordan (40-1), Jerry Rice (20-1), Aaron Rodgers (50-1) and Emmitt Smith (100-1). Celebrated perennial longshot Charles Barkley is listed once again at 500-1.
In 2009, Golf Digest magazine ranked Romo as the number one pro athlete golfer in the country. He reached the second round of the Wisconsin State Amateur match play tournament last year and has a host of amateur and celebrity tournament titles on his resume. He finished third at Lake Tahoe in 2008 and 11th in his first year of competition in 2007. This past February, when he was paired with Tiger Woods at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, Woods told the media, “He can really move the ball. The explosiveness that he has translates to golf.”
Rhoden has won over $1 million in prize money at the American Century Championship. He was No. 1 on Golf Digest’s 2007 ranking of athlete-golfers but he was removed from the 2009 list because of his PGA Champions Tour experience. Rhoden is no longer playing on the PGA Champions Tour, setting his sights on the Tahoe title each year.
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