Lance Armstrong Worries About Celebrity Golf Championship

RENO, Nev., July 8, 2006 -- Seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong thinks keeping the ball in the fairway at Lake Tahoe will prove as challenging as any climb up the Pyrenees.

The 17th annual American Century Celebrity Golf Championship begins next week at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course, and the Lance Armstrong Foundation will be one of the charity beneficiaries of the three-day tournament.

"I got a little worried when they told me there would be spectators," Armstrong told reporters during a recent teleconference. "I would just warn them to get out of the way when I hit the ball. If I ever broke 100, I'd be happy. That's how bad I am."

Other celebrity golfers scheduled to appear include Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, Ray Romano, Donald Trump, Jerry Rice and Mario Lemieux.

"Jordan I know quite well, Barkley a little bit. He says bike riding is not a sport. So I'm bringing him a bike and we're going to find out what's a sport," Armstrong said.

The cycling great won't be in the official competition for the $500,000 purse because he's scheduled to depart July 14 to crown his successor in France. But he's in the field for Thursday's celebrity-am.

Between appearances for his foundation, the 34-year-old Armstrong has been training for the New York City Marathon in November. He said his goal is to finish within an hour of the winner.

"Actually, I would be happy if I broke three hours. I found running to be more challenging than I had expected."

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