The Tiger Woods of Poker... Literally
On Friday, May 17, Tiger’s Poker Night, presented by the World Poker Tour® (WPT®), which was a part of the 15th annual Tiger Jam, was held at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. This marked the second year in a row that a charity poker event was held to benefit the college-access programs of the Tiger Woods Foundation, and the poker pros turned out in droves, including Doyle Brunson, Phil Ivey, Daniel Negreanu, Mike Sexton and Phil Hellmuth.
The poker tournament, which was emceed by the 13-time World Series of Poker gold bracelet winner and hosted by golf legend Tiger Woods, was part of a two-day event called Tiger Jam, which features world-class golf, high-stakes poker, gourmet cuisine and exclusive VIP experiences, much of which was captured by WPT cameras for inclusion in an upcoming WPT on FSN episode.
The event attracted a number notable guests including Kid Rock, Mark Cuban, Chris Paul, Mehki Philfer and Dirk Nowitzki. The top prize—a round of golf with Woods—went to amateur player Scott Dillon, who bested Dan Shak in heads-up play.
After a Friday night of high-stakes charity poker tournament, VIP guests gathered for a Pre-Jam party at Moorea Beach Club featuring a performance by Lifehouse before Kid Rock joined host Tiger Woods at Mandalay Bay Events Center where he rocked the 8,000-person arena (the show was opened by Uncle Kracker).
Here are some other notes from the event:
- Tiger Woods was first to get knocked out when amateur Melinda Fey rivered a boat to beat Tiger's jack high flush. Tiger stayed for the duration of the tournament.
- Phil Ivey was seated at Tiger's table.
- Tiger’s girlfriend, Olympian Lindsey Vonn, was in the room watching.
- LA Clippers star Chris Paul made the final table and finished in fourth place.
Check out some pictures—courtesy of the WPT and Joe Giron—from the event:
All told, the 15th annual Tiger Jam raised more than $800,000 for the college-access programs of the Tiger Woods Foundation.
Here’s some more information about Tiger Jam and the Tiger Woods Foundation:
"Since its creation in 1998, Tiger Jam has raised more than $14 million for programs of the Tiger Woods Foundation through its sold-out performances and one-of-a-kind auction items. At the Tiger Woods Foundation, we believe every child deserves a shot at college. Designed to break through a culture of low expectations, our college-access programs reach underserved youth in all stages of academic life. For scholars in grades 5-12, the Tiger Woods Learning Centers provide hands-on experiences in science, technology, engineering and math coupled with college preparation workshops to create a unique environment focused on college and careers. The Earl Woods Scholarship Program is an unparalleled network providing admissions counseling, college scholarships, dedicated mentors, specialized internships and vital workshops. Receiving individualized support, our bright young scholars are succeeding at prestigious universities such as Georgetown, USC, UC Berkeley, UCLA and Harvard. For more information visit www.tigerwoodsfoundation.org."
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