Mon Jun 16 15:03:35 2008

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Sports Legends to vie for record purse at American Century

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Stateline, NV (Sports Network) - A record purse of $600,000 highlights this year's American Century Championship -- the premier celebrity golf tournament in the United States. The 54-hole challenge takes place July 11-13 at the Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course in South Lake Tahoe, Nevada.

The list of competitors includes many current and former professional athletes, a host of entertainment stars, and one professional golfer -- Rick Rhoden. The retired Major League Baseball pitcher is a member of the "Champions Tour" and has already posted three top 10 finishes in 33 career events.

However, Rhoden, the six-time American Century Championship winner, is eligible to play this season since he currently does not have playing privileges on the "Champions Tour." Rhoden was disqualified from this tournament in 2006 and was only able to contend for last year's title since he competed in just two tour events while recuperating from neck surgery.

The two-time MLB All-Star has never finished worse than fifth, and has five second-place accomplishments to go along with his six victories. Maybe that's the reason he's the early 9-5 favorite.

In his last major prep for this tournament, Rhoden finished in a second-place tie with Grant Fuhr in the San Diego Celebrity Classic, an event hosted by former NFL quarterback Stan Humphries. He says his neck injury is still an issue, but is raring to get back into action at Lake Tahoe.

Former NHL forward Dan Quinn, the second choice at 5-2, is looking for his fifth championship crown, which would leave him one short of Rhoden's mark. The one-time 40-goal scorer has finished first, second or third eight times in this event and looks to rebound from his disappointing 13th-place finish last season. It was the first time since 1996 that he failed to make the top 10.

Billy Joe Tolliver also is getting lots of play as the 3-1 third choice. The only other golfer to win on more than one occasion has been a gem of consistency of late, earning a top-five finish in each of the last six seasons. He nailed down the win in both 1996 and 2005, and should have won a third title in 2006, but couldn't hold a six-shot lead on the final day.

That tourney was a defining moment in the 18-year history of the American Century Championship as the first non "professional athlete" took home top honors. Soap Opera star Jack Wagner sank a 14-foot birdie putt on the final hole to take home the $100,000 first-place prize.

The Bold and The Beautiful actor, one of only six golfers to play in this event from its inception, has seven top-five finishes and must be respected at 7-1.

Last year's champion, Chris Chandler, is one of six participants listed at 8-1. The former NFL quarterback earned $125,000 by defeating Rhoden by two strokes last year, but unfortunately for Chandler, this tournament has been proven tough to repeat as champion as it's been done only one time when Quinn took home back-to-back titles in 2001-02.

Of the other five golfers at 8-1, Fuhr looks to be the one to watch. The five- time Stanley Cup-winning goaltender has three top-five finishes since 2004 and is progressing the right way with a fourth in '06 and a third in last year's event. As mentioned earlier, he tied Rhoden for second place, one shot behind Mickey Tettleton, in the San Diego Celebrity Classic in late April.

Other notables entered this year are former NFL greats John Elway (12-1), Jerry Rice (25-1) and Emmitt Smith and Jim McMahon, both listed at 50-1. Legends of the ice are also well represented as Brett Hull (10-1) and Mario Lemieux (12-1) are among two of the top 20 favored to win the tournament.

Michael Jordan and new Bulls head coach Vinny Del Negro are both at 25-1, while Charles Barkley is getting no respect whatsoever as the longest shot on the board at 500-1. Even Brandi Chastain (300-1) has received more action as the only female on the course.