An exclusive look into the celebrity field at the American Century Championship

This week, golf will see a tournament field that isn’t the normal cast of characters.

Instead, dozens of A-list celebrities will showcase their skills at scenic Edgewood Tahoe along Nevada's Lake Tahoe shores for the American Century Championship. This tournament July 12-14 stands alone as the culminating event for celebrities with a field packed full of championship hopefuls ranging from the Kelce brothers to Larry the Cable Guy. If you’re a celebrity that plays golf, this is the event you want to be in.

Earlier this year, I got to catch up with a few of this year's players at the first celebrity event of the year, the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions. This unique format offers celebrities the chance to play side by side with the most recent LPGA Tour winners.

Chatting with the celebrity golfers, it’s clear that the game has impacted each of them in a significant way. Being on the course in a tournament setting is something they love no matter how they play. But make no mistake, they want to play well in front of the TV cameras and crowds. Tune in to find out who wins.

Sorenstam is beloved as one of the greatest LPGA Tour players of all time; capturing 10 majors and more than 70 tour wins throughout her career. Since announcing her retirement in 2008, she has continued to impact the game while flexing her competitive muscles on the course in celebrity events like the ACC. I asked Sorenstam about her legacy and more.

You’ve done so much for young women getting into the sport, what do those initiatives mean to you?

“I’m just very fortunate to be where I am today, and you know if it wasn’t for golf, I wouldn’t be here. So my foundation is all about saying thank you and giving back to young girls. There were a few years I was there when I was at that age and having playing opportunities (to) inspire the next generation and provide the tournaments and exposure for them is important to us.”

“It’s encouraging but also motivating for the next generation to say, ' Hey if I practice, if I do well, look at where this will take me'. They are getting some great exposure and learning lessons.”

On the golf course with the celebrities, do you find yourself with the same competitive mindset that you had on tour?

“You know I'm trying to be relaxed but I am so competitive and that's what makes it difficult. I know what it’s like to compete and be up there (on the leaderboard) and I don't have the tools that I used to. I wish I could enjoy it from a perspective that I don't care but I do care and when you do care then you have emotion and sometimes, I get in the way.”

What does it mean to have your family out watching?

“I love it with my family and friends around. It means a lot. He's (Mike McGee) a golf nut and he cares and he gets so into it and so does my daughter. To see her out there supporting me obviously warms my heart. I look at them and I realize this is just a game, right? But it’s hard when you’ve been doing this for so long to have that kind of turn on and then turn off switch. But I look at them and I realize that bogey doesn’t really matter and let’s move on but then I stand on the next tee and I'm like 'okay let’s go again'.”

You may know Brian Baumgartner from his role as Kevin Malone in the hit show, The Office. What you may not know is he’s an avid golfer and has been for many years. He’s a seasoned pro at playing in celebrity events and looks forward to the American Century Championship each year. He considers the event the celebrity “Masters”.

Since you started playing, what has the game of golf taught you?

“In terms of these type of events, the opportunity that I've had to meet so many great athletes for other sports and professional golfers. I think in terms of golf you know it satisfies a competitive nature that I guess that I have. And I think playing so many sports when I was young gives me the opportunity to compete and I think the great thing about golf (is it is) very different than you know playing against Michael Jordan in basketball ... the handicap system allows you to play really with anyone and have a really fair good competition, so I love that.”

It’s okay to have a little money on the line when you’re playing golf. If you could change the format of this tournament what would you change it to?

“You know it's really interesting I think that unfortunately anyone who golfs knows the term sandbagger, so it's really difficult when you have a tournament like this and people(are) from all different courses so I understand why using handicaps in this situation would be very difficult.”

"It is an interesting thing for me because I can't win. People who don't know golf and ask me how it goes, 'Are you winning?' My 8-year-old asked me yesterday if I was winning and I said 'no'. I did the best that I've ever done in a round here yesterday. You know it’s hard for people to understand (that) 'No I cannot win'. There's no chance.

"You’re talking about this is not possible for me over 4 days. So I think it makes it difficult but I understand why I'm here and I have a great time doing it, so yeah in this tournament specifically there are a few guys that I will have some friendly wagers with but as much as anything, I'm playing against myself."

You've played in many celebrity events over the years. What sets this one (the Tournament of Champions) apart?

"In terms of difficulty, Lake Nona is not an easy course. I mean there's a reason so many touring pros live here, and this is where they practice because it’s not easy. The green complexes are very complicated and intricate. So, I think being able to play this difficult of a golf course and a beautiful golf course is awesome. Of anything I do, it is the biggest grind being 4 days, even (more than) the American Century Championship in Lake Tahoe, which is kind of our Masters in terms of the celebrities because it’s just us and it’s about us. It’s three days walking, which is still a lot in the altitude."

Pro Football Hall of Famer and Super Bowl champion Charles Woodson wasn't introduced to golf until after his impressive NFL career. Now a regular in celebrity events, the game has impacted his life in many ways.

Can you talk about a bit about the impact golf has had on you and your charity work?

"Man, golf is something that I never ever thought that I would get into. And it wasn't until I retired that I really took up golf since moving here to Lake Nona and being around other members who golfed all the time. It's just a great game. It's a great time out with friends or whoever you're golfing with."

"But in terms of my charity and my connection with the children's hospital, CS Mott Children's Hospital in Ann Arbor. It was around a charity golf tournament that myself and former teammates of mine at the University of Michigan got together every year at a golf tournament, brought in other former players, some current players and we raised money to help build the hospital. Then I also created a fund there, the Charles Woodson clinical research fund there. Golf was always a centerpiece of that getting people to give back. Everybody likes to come out and play golf and have a good time so it's been an essential part of that and every year I look forward to doing more and more of it. Raise money, play golf, play better golf."

The environment on the golf course is a little different than football. Do you like the calmer environment or do you miss the crowd?

"There's nothing like the roaring crowd. You can't ever replace that. There's nothing you can do in life that will replace that. On the golf course, it's just different because in football or basketball or any other sport, you're relying on 10 other guys out there on the field with you and try to advance or whatever your goals are for the game or the season."

"In golf, it's you, possibly a caddie depending on where you're at and your club, the ball and the course. And like, that's it. So if you hit a bad shot, you can't point at anybody else because you have the club and it's your swing. It's all up to you. And I think that's the big difference of it but I love it because of that aspect. There's nobody else to blame but me and you know it's such a challenging game because it really looks easy but it's far from that."

Speaking of people who make it look easy, you got to play with Nelly Korda this weekend. What did you learn from her?

"You know what I try to learn from Nelly is just her tempo, the tempo of her swing. I think if you ask any football player that’s out here playing now, the one thing that we struggle with is tempo because in our sport everything is really quick, it's fast and you're trying to get from point A to point B as fast as you can. And your swing, you get like that and it's kinda automatic. You get to a certain place and you get quick and so I just try to watch her swing and try to add it to mine as I'm playing but man, habit is something else. Just for me, a joy to watch her fluidness, the effortless motion she does out there and she's just such a professional."

Coming from a football background, you got into golf after retirement. When did you first pick up a club and why?

"Well the first time I ever picked up one was years and years ago just as part of a charity event. You know you play scrambles and things like that. But I would say in terms of picking it up with some intention or trying to get better it had to be around 2017, 2018 when I was down here. Guys invited me out to play and I didn't play but they were all like just come out. We just like to have a good time. So I'm thinking everybody is pretty bad at golf like me but they could all play. So I would say around that time is when I really picked it up with any intention of trying to get better."

Who is the one celebrity golfer you would love to tee it up with? Let us know in the comments below.