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Brian Urlacher views the ACC as celebrity golf’s major

The American Century Championship is basically a major for celebrity golfers

James Hardie Pro Football Hall Of Fame Invitational 2026 - Round Two
James Hardie Pro Football Hall Of Fame Invitational 2026 - Round Two
BOCA RATON, FLORIDA - MARCH 07: Brian Urlacher plays his shot from the seventh tee during the second round of the James Hardie Pro Football Hall of Fame Invitational 2026 at The Old Course at Broken Sound on March 07, 2026 in Boca Raton, Florida. (Photo by Raj Mehta/Getty Images)
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The world of celebrity golf is in serious preparation.

In a month’s time the American Century Championship will be upon us and celebrity golfers from across all spectrums of celebrity will be in attendance. Former Chicago Bears linebacker and Pro Football Hall of Famer Brian Urlacher is among those in the field, and in a conversation with SB Nation recently he put the whole thing in rather interesting context.

Urlacher noted that the ACC is essentially a major championship to celebrity golfers. This was obviously said in good fun. Given that it is among the most serious titles that celebrity golfers can win Urlacher’s thinking makes sense.

STATELINE, NEVADA - JULY 11: Former NFL player Brian Urlacher hits his tee on the 14th hole prior to the 2024 American Century Championship at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course on July 11, 2024 in Stateline, Nevada. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images)
STATELINE, NEVADA - JULY 11: Former NFL player Brian Urlacher hits his tee on the 14th hole prior to the 2024 American Century Championship at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course on July 11, 2024 in Stateline, Nevada. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images)
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Tournament prize money for the ACC is up to $750,000 total with a $150,000 first prize, but importantly the tournament has at the same time raised over $8 million for regional and national charities. American Century Investments donates 40% of its dividends to the Stowers Institute for Medical Research and activates fundraising at tournament to drive direct donations to Stowers each year. Fans can watch the ACC on NBC or Peacock from July 10th through 12.

When I asked Urlacher if these rules meant that someone like Tony Romo was his version of Scottie Scheffler he laughed it off. There are definitely some aces among those in the celebrity field, Mardy Fish is arguably the one, and the tournament’s point system does an admirable job of leveling the field.

Time will tell who takes home this “major” next month. Maybe Urlacher can be the surprise story.

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