Here’s 1 bucket-list item athletes cross off at the American Century Championship that’s not golf

Here’s 1 bucket-list item athletes cross off at the American Century Championship that’s not golf originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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Stateline, NV – It goes without saying that the American Century Championship has become more than a celebrity golf tournament for the Lake Tahoe region. Celebrities and spectators bring friends and family to South Lake Tahoe, California, Stateline, Nevada, and the surrounding areas to enjoy concerts at the Edgewood Tahoe Resort and various festivities outside the Caesars Republic Lake Tahoe Hotel.

The event began today and runs through Sunday, July 12, on NBC, the NBC Sports Network, and Peacock. You can follow the action on the ACC App on the App Store and on Google Play.

For the 2026 American Century Championship, I got the chance to experience one of the main bucket-list items that the celebrity athletes get to cross off during their stay in the Lake Tahoe region every second weekend of July.

MasterCraft gets the celebrity athletes on Lake Tahoe

I got the chance to ride the MasterCraft XT24, a 24-foot crossover boat built for wakesurfing, wakeboarding, and unforgettable adventures, on Friday. Aaron Rodgers, Miles Teller, Colin Jost, and 2025 American Century Championship winner Joe Pavelski were some of the names who have enjoyed MasterCraft’s array of luxury boats on Lake Tahoe.

Krista Schipner, MasterCraft Boat Holdings Senior Vice President of Marketing & Communications, explained to me before the event the beneficial relationship between MasterCraft and the ACC.

“The American Century Championship is one of those rare events where competition, connection, and an incredible setting all come together in a really unique way,” Schipner said. “You’ve got world-class athletes, fans, and families all in Lake Tahoe, and the entire week feels bigger than just golf.

“For MasterCraft, that’s what makes it such a natural fit. We’re all about creating unforgettable moments on the water, and the ACC provides the perfect opportunity to do just that. Between tournament rounds, players can step away from the intensity and chaos of the competition, get out on the water in a MasterCraft to wake surf or simply relax with family and friends before heading back to the course. Those moments away from the game are a big part of what makes ACC so unique and such a bucket-list event for so many athletes and celebrities.”

Of the many things athletes and fans get to experience at the American Century Championship every summer, experiencing Lake Tahoe itself, given its 99.994% purity level as one of the clearest and purest large alpine lakes in the world, is right up there as the most awe-inspiring.