Superstar Justin Timberlake headed to Lake Tahoe for American Century Championship

Megastar and multi-talented artist Justin Timberlake will join superstar athletes and entertainers for the first time this summer at the American Century Championship celebrity golf tournament in Lake Tahoe. The much-decorated performer is an avid golfer who plays to a six handicap and is renowned in the sport for his philanthropic endeavors.

He will join an already-impressive lineup of more than 80 sports and entertainment celebrities, including TNT NBA analyst Charles Barkley, NFL MVP and Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, TV personality Willie Robertson of Duck Dynasty and a host of current pro athletes and retired Hall of Famers. The 26th annual tournament raises money for multiple charities and offers free admission to military personnel and guests.

With major television exposure (NBC Sports, NBCSN, Golf Channel) and a purse of $600,000, the American Century Championship is the most prestigious celebrity tournament in golf. The 2015 event tees off July 17-19 at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course on the shores of the largest alpine lake in North America.

“We’ve been talking to Justin Timberlake for years about joining the American Century Championship field and his schedule coincides with our tournament dates this year,” said Jon Miller, President of Programming for NBC Sports, which owns and operates the tournament. “He will be a dynamic attraction for the galleries and a perfect fit with the celebrities who come to Lake Tahoe every July.”

In 2007, the PGA Tour announced Timberlake as the host of its 2008 Las Vegas tour stop. The tournament was renamed the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open from 2008-2012. In addition to lending his name to the event and attending the tournaments, Timberlake also raised money for the Shriners Hospitals via concert performances during weekend activities.

One of today’s most successful recording artists, Timberlake's work has earned him six Grammy Awards and four Emmy Awards. As an actor, Timberlake has starred in such acclaimed films as the Academy Award-nominated The Social Network as well as hit movies including Friends With Benefits, Bad Teacher, Trouble With The Curve and Inside Llewyn Davis. In 2013, he released his album The 20/20 Experience – The Complete Experience which became the best-selling album of the year. TIME magazine named Timberlake one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2007 and 2013.

Along with the sports and entertainment stars, Timberlake will join two bona fide heroes in the field. United States Army Sergeant Major Rodney Gorman, and retired United States Army Corporal Chad Pfeifer, both winners of the George W. Bush Presidential Center’s Warrior Open. Gorman, a Gulf War veteran who has also experienced multiple deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq, is 90 percent disabled with several shrapnel wounds including in his left forearm. Pfeifer, who finished fifth in last year’s tournament, lost his left leg to an IED explosion in Iraq in 2007.

As part of the tournament’s special tribute to America’s military, all active duty, reservists, National Guard and veterans can receive two complimentary tickets per day, including one for a guest at the 26th annual tournament. All service men and women who would like to attend can apply by going to https://verify.sheerid.com/americancenturychampionship2015/ to redeem the special offer. Participants must show photo ID along with the ticket voucher at tournament gates to receive the complimentary ticket(s).

Other prominent competitors chasing the $125,000 first prize include John Elway, Anthony Anderson, Roger Clemens, Jerry Rice, Cris Collinsworth and defending champion Mark Rypien. Tim Brown and Jerome Bettis are competing just before their induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, OH. John Smoltz is set to join the all-time baseball greats in Cooperstown in August.

Advanced tickets are also available online at www.TahoeSouth.com, www.TahoeCelebrityGolf.com.Tickets are $20 each day for the Lake Tahoe Celebrity-Amateur on Tuesday, July 14; practice round on Wednesday, July 15; and the American Century Celebrity-Am on Thursday, July 16; and $30 for each tournament round, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Kids 10 and under receive free admission – limit two, when accompanied by a paying adult.

For the latest details, photos, celebrity tweets and fan contests go to @ACChampionship on Twitter and Instagram and facebook.com/LTCelebrityGolf. For tournament information: www.TahoeCelebrityGolf.com.

For real time updates on promotions, packages, conditions and events in South Lake Tahoe, visit The Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority on Facebook: www.facebook.com/TahoeSouth, Twitter: www.twitter.com/SouthShoreTahoe and YouTube: www.youtube.com/LTVA. For information about Lake Tahoe South Shore, call 1-800-AT-TAHOE (1-800-288-2463) or visit www.tahoesouth.com.