Charity aspect along with golf and fun keeps celebrities returning to Lake Tahoe for American Century | South Lake Tahoe

LAKE TAHOE, Nev. – After a year without spectators followed by a year with limited galleries due to COVID, the American Century Championship (ACC) returns to Lake Tahoe for the 33rd time, this time without COVID restrictions July 5-10.

“My goal has always been to play in the ACC,” WWE wrestler The Miz told a panel of reporters at the ACC media day in Edgewood Tahoe on Wednesday. “This is how golf should be, it’s fun and entertaining, and good golf!”

This is the first year that The Miz (Michael Gregory Mizanin) has joined the rest of the golfers from the sports and entertainment world at Edgewood Tahoe for the popular tournament.

The Miz said he jumped like his four-year-old daughter when he was invited to play at the ACC. He is looking forward to bringing his two daughters (the other is 2 1/2) and his wife, wrestler Maryse Ouellet, to Lake Tahoe in July.

“This tournament is AWESOME,” he said in true wrestling fashion. “I will make my wife love golf at Lake Tahoe.”

The wrestler has also acted (Real World, season 10) and was a contestant on season 30 of Dancing With The Stars in 2021, where he and partner Whitney became the seventh couple to be eliminated.

The Miz shared the afternoon Zoom session with Charles Barkley, who has played at the ACC since the 1990s. Though he’s always at the bottom of tournaments, the basketball superstar always comes back to enjoy the lake, the golf game, and the camaraderie with players and fans.

Barkley won the hearts of Tahoe residents during the Angora Fire when he grabbed an NBC film crew and went into the neighborhoods around North Upper Truckee Road to visit people who had lost their homes.

“My heart ached. It was heartbreaking and the most devastating thing I’ve seen in my life,” Barkley said.

“Sir Charles,” as he’s known, didn’t stop with a camera crew, he donated $200,000 for fire victims and then invited firefighters, law enforcement and their spouses to dinner at Harrah’s. As a thank you, a special stone near the Edgewood Tahoe Driving Range is dedicated to him. Charles Barkley Day has also been celebrated at past tournaments.

“The people of Lake Tahoe are amazing,” Barkley said.

Both Barkley and The Miz are looking forward to the crowds expected to return to the golf course during the ACC. Neither is expected to win (Charles is priced at 7500-1 and The Miz is priced at 1000-1), but they are looking forward to a fun week at Lake Tahoe.

“I want the crowd to get excited. There will be no silence or whispers,” said The Miz. “I feed on the energy.”

In addition to having a $600,000 prize pool for players, the American Century Championship also raises money for local charities and non-profit organizations each year. The visitors who come to Lake Tahoe for the tournament and the viewers who watch on television result in millions of dollars in economic impact annually.

Visit https://americancenturychampionship.com/ for ticket information, TV schedules and a full list of golfers.