Countdown to American Century Championship:"The fans are great!"

In just over a week, the eyes of sports fans will be on Lake Tahoe as the 27th annual American Century Golf Championship opens at Edgewood Tahoe. The field of 86 celebrities from sports, television, music, stage, screen, politics, Nascar, and the US Marine Corps are all headed to the South Shore July 19-24 to play.

"The golfers anticipate getting the invitation letter to play," said Former NFL Head Coach and ESPN Analyst Herm Edwards. "We get excited at that moment."

Edwards, AJ Hawk, Golden Tate and Carson Palmer spent some time Thursday answering questions on the phone, talking about their golf game and Lake Tahoe, to the upcoming football season.

"Galleries make it nerve wracking," Palmer said of the big crowds at Edgewood. "I think of about 47 things before I hit the ball, many more things when at ACC because of people. I don’t want to hit them and just hope to hit the ball straight."

He recalled a time when he hit a young man in the back with a golf ball in Tahoe. Once he knew the boy was fine, he joked, "He was wearing a Ben Roethlisberger jersey at the time, so it was okay."

"I am really excited this year," Arizona quarterback Carson Palmer said of the tournament. "I play in Arizona now, so get to play often and I'm shooting for a top 10..would love to get there!" Palmer is currently 50-1 odds at the Harvey's Sportsbook.

The 36-year-old former USC star was the first pick in the 2003 NFL draft. He is coming off one his best seasons and looking forward to the tournament. He owns a home at the lake, and visits as often as he can, and said his golf game is good.

"I’ve had a place in Tahoe for 10 years," said Palmer. "Tahoe is one of the most beautiful places on the planet, and I get to play there with athletes I've looked up to for years."

"The people in Tahoe are so welcoming, so first class," he added.

Detroit Lions wide receiver Golden Tate is headed to Lake Tahoe for the first time said he's been watching the ACC from home, and finally thinks his golf game is good enough. "I’ve watched on TV, looks like super-fun," said Tate of the Tournament. "Looks like a great weekend in a great area." His odds to win are currently at 50-1.

Comedian Howie Nave joined in the phone call, reminded Tate to hydrate and bring Chapstick because of the elevation, something Tate promised to do.

"Tempo is everything in my golf game," said Tate. "Ill hit about 200 balls really hard in the driving range before the round, then try to make solid content and not go too fast."

One thing he tells his ball before he hits it: "If you get lost, I’m not going to look for you."

Free agent AJ Hawk isn't favored to win, and is actually a long shot at 300-1. "I’m not that good of a golfer, so my tempo is swing as hard as I can" he said. "Only thing I can do is hit the ball far."

Coach, and television analyst Herm Edwards, agreed that Hawk hits it far.

"He hits the ball so far and so high, I lose it in about 20 yards," said Edwards.

Hawk is looking forward to the Thursday, July 22 gallery on the 7th hole, the scene of Hawk tackling one of the fans two years running. South Tahoe Now will carry a story Friday on the group of fans at 7, and the surprise in store for people watching.

Edwards says he not only enjoys the camaraderie, but also the fact that the tournament raises so much money for charity.

"Its nice to go to a place where you see so many different athletes that are all involved in so many other charities, its great," he said. "The ACC is known for the charitable angle.

"The fans are great," added Edwards. "And the players are great with the fans."