American Century Investments® marked a series of notable achievements during the 35th annual American Century Championship, held in South Lake Tahoe. The event, which has been sponsored by American Century Investments since 1999, concluded on July 14 with tennis star Mardy Fish securing his second celebrity golf title. Fish achieved a total of 83 points, narrowly missing the tournament record by one point.
This year's tournament set an all-time attendance record with 77,049 attendees. The event featured a star-studded lineup including Travis Kelce, Jason Kelce, Alex Rodriguez, Aaron Rodgers, and Jerry Rice. The presence of Taylor Swift fans, supporting the Kelce brothers, added to the event's excitement, especially given their current media prominence.
American Century Investments also celebrated a 20% increase in participation in their annual American Century Fantasy Golf Contest. Fans created fantasy teams from a roster of sports legends and celebrities, with winners awarded trips to next year's tournament and the grand prize winner receiving $10,000 to donate to a charity of their choice.
A new highlight this year was the "Beat the Bot" charity challenge in support of the Stowers Institute for Medical Research. Participants competed against a talking golf swing robot named "Charity Champ" in a closest-to-the-hole challenge. Successful participants saw $500 donations made in their name to the Stowers Institute. This initiative alone raised nearly $25,000.
The American Century Championship also introduced the "Cardigan Classic," featuring a special inter-tournament charity golf match between Jimmy Fallon and DJ Khaled. Fallon won the four-hole match, earning a red cardigan sweater and bragging rights.
In addition, the tournament featured a $1 million hole-in-one challenge on the par-3 17th hole, co-sponsored by American Century Investments. While no participant won the million-dollar prize, former Hall of Fame Wide Receiver Tim Brown achieved a hole-in-one on the 12th hole, winning a MasterCraft X24 boat valued at over $200,000.
Charitable donations were a key aspect of the tournament, with players and sponsors contributing generously. This continues the tradition of the American Century Championship, which has donated nearly $8 million to charity throughout its history. Erik Schneberger, Chief Marketing Officer of American Century Investments, emphasized the company's commitment to philanthropy, stating, "We are a top global money manager that directs over 40% of our profits each year to medical research. When you invest with us, you also invest in the future of others. That's the spirit we bring as title sponsor of the American Century Championship: having a good time for a good cause."
American Century Investments has renewed its sponsorship of the championship for the next five years, looking forward to continuing its role in supporting both the sport and charitable causes. For more information about the tournament, visit www.AmericanCenturyChampionship.com.
