Early RSVPs for the July 12-17 American Century Championship indicate one of the strongest celebrity fields in the golf tournament’s 22-year history.

Super Bowl MVP Aaron Rodgers will join Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, Rex Ryan, Tony Romo, Jerry Rice and a reunion of one of baseball’s greatest pitching rotations: Greg Maddox, Tom Glavine and John Smoltz in the field of 78 sports and entertainment stars at Edgewood Tahoe in Stateline.

Newcomers include Ryan, the volatile, quotable New York Jets head coach; Martin Brodeur, NHL All Star of the New Jersey Devils; Arian Foster, Houston Texans All-Pro running back; Deron Williams, New Jersey Nets All-Star guard; former Major League All-Stars Goose Gossage of the Yankees and Tom Glavine, Atlanta Braves; actors Tim Matheson of “Animal House” fame, and Rob Morrow of television dramas “Numb3rs” and “Northern Exposure”.

Defending champion and former NFL quarterback Billy Joe Tolliver will likely see his stiffest competition from eight-time winner Rick Rhoden, four-time winner Dan Quinn and previous champions Chris Chandler, Jack Wagner and Mark Rypien. Additional challenges can be expected from last year’s foursome of second place finishers Wagner, Romo, Smoltz and John Elway, NFL Hall of Famer who has played every year.

Tickets are available for advance purchase online beginning April 1. Prices are $15 each day for the Lake Tahoe Celebrity-Amateur on July 12, the practice round on July 13, and for the American Century Celebrity-Amateur on July 14; and $25 for each tournament round, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. A season pass for $60 provides admission for all six days. Kids 10 and under are free with a paid adult.

Discounted tickets for tournament rounds Friday through Sunday will be available starting June 1 at participating Raley’s, Nob Hill and Bel Air Foods supermarkets.