Carolina Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen is looking forward to his next golf tournament.
The two-time Pro Bowler and former All-Pro selection is currently going through OTAs and will be getting ready for minicamp when it starts on June 11. However, he’ll participate in the American Century Golf Championship between July 10 and 14 at Edgewood Tahoe Resort in Stateline, Nevada before training camp begins. Over 80 celebrities and athletes will compete at the 35th annual tournament for $750K in prize money and a $150K first place prize.
Thielen – an avid golfer who regularly participates in celebrity golf tournaments – details what separates the American Century Golf Championship from other tournaments.
“It gets super competitive,” said Thielen while speaking on a Zoom call with reporters. “In my opinion, it’s the best week out of the whole year just because of the atmosphere, the scenery, the golf course, and just the people that you meet and build this fraternity of the male and female athletes and entertainers that are competing against each other. And it’s just kind of a special event that you can’t emulate.”
The tournament is known as the “Super Bowl of celebrity golf.” Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry previously won the event last year. However, the four-time NBA champion won’t be a part of this year’s event as he prepares to participate in the 2024 Olympics.
While the event won’t feature Curry this time around, it won’t be lacking in star power. That’s because NFL legends such as Steve Young, John Elway and Jerry Rice will be competing alongside current NFL stars such as Aaron Rodgers, Josh Allen and Davante Adams. The event will also feature Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves as he makes his debut in the star-studded event.
The 33-year-old Thielen – who has been participating in the tournament for several years now – previously finished tied for fourth place at the 2022 American Century Golf Championship. Thielen says he wants to get back into that final group, but admits he gets very “frustrated” on the golf course.
“I get very frustrated on the golf course,” says Thielen. “And it’s probably why I play so much and I think it’s helped me in my football game. With that being said, I want to get back in that final group. I feel like I have the game to do it. I probably don’t play enough to do it, but I’m so competitive and I love the game so much that I want to be back in that moment, which is really fun.”
Thielen further explains what makes this tournament more special than other celebrity-oriented golf tournaments.
“I think it’s gotten more competitive every year that I’ve been in it just because the better golfers in the sports world, entertainment world, they’re like, hey, that’s my goal, to play in the American Century Championship. It just gets more competitive as the years go on. It just keeps getting better and better as the names get bigger, the athletes that want to play, their names are big. Steph Curry winning it last year, being on top of the leaderboard, I think it just drew a lot of attention.”
Thielen – who has been playing golf since high school – says Lake Tahoe is the “most competitive golf environment” he’s ever been a part of. And while he believes he is the best golfer on the Panthers roster, he says that second-year quarterback Bryce Young is making “progress” in his golf game.
“Bryce, the first time I got him in the simulator at the facility, it was probably the worst golf swing I’ve ever seen in my entire life. That’s saying quite a bit because I’ve seen some pretty bad golf swings. I made sure that every day I brought him in there and had him do 10 swings. By the end of it, I gave him some coaching, he was starting to hit the ball okay. The first time – he is probably not going to love I’m saying this – but I think the first time he didn’t hit the ball once in like 20 swings. We’re making progress. His game’s getting better.”
While Young may just be a beginner on the golf course, Thielen says punter Johnny Hekker is the second-best golfer on the Panthers’ roster.
Another notable NFL player that Thielen mentions has a good golf game is Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. While Mahomes won’t be a part of this year’s field – he participated for four consecutive years – Thielen gave the three-time Super Bowl champion his props, saying he has a “ton of ability.”
“Pat’s a guy who has a ton of ability,” says Thielen. “I think once he gets more rounds under his belt, the more reps he gets, he’s going to be a tough player. Golf is a game where you just need the reps, you need the practice. You need the rounds to be really competitive.”
As far as who Thielen believes is the biggest threat in the tournament this year, he mentions former tennis player Mardy Fish – who won the tournament in 2020 and finished as the runner-up last year – and former two-time All-Star MLB pitcher Mark Mulder – who has won the event twice – as the guys to beat.
“I feel like Mardy Fish is the guy to beat,” says Thielen. “He’s won in all the different celebrity golf tournaments. He’s played at a high level and he just has that smooth demeanor – he plays well every single time. Also, Mark Mulder. He’s won a bunch of them. He’s one of those guys thar are always in the top five. They’re tough because they’re consistent. They play a ton of golf, they’re retired and that’s all they get to do, which is nice.”