Clint Eastwood is a prominent figure at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
He was an avid golfer in his day, but as the chairman of the Monterey Peninsula Foundation, the movie star transitioned to a role of charity fundraiser as the host of a PGA Tour event.
Eastwood often worked in the CBS tower and has presented the trophy to the winner of the professional event. Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson have been handed the trophy by Eastwood after winning this iconic event.
But one year, while attending a volunteer dinner, Eastwood’s role at the tournament transcended golf. Instead, he played the role of lifesaver.
Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images
How Clint Eastwood saved the life of Pebble Beach Pro-Am tournament director
Eastwood, at a volunteer party on the eve of the PGA Tour event, noticed tournament director Steve John choking on a piece of cheese. He quickly performed the Heimlich maneuver and saved his life.
John explained after the incident, “I was drinking water and eating these little appetizers, threw down a piece of cheese, and it just didn’t work. I was looking at him and couldn’t breathe. He recognized it immediately and saved my life.
“I can’t believe I’m 202 pounds and he threw me up in the air three times”.
Eastwood was his typically dramatic self when describing the incident to The Carmel Pine Cone: “I looked in his eyes and saw that look of panic people have when they see their life passing before their eyes. It looked bad.”
Not just an action hero on the big screens!
Clint Eastwood’s golf handicap
Even into his later years, Eastwood managed to maintain an impressive handicap. Throughout his 80s, Eastwood played to a handicap of around 14.
But his connection to golf started long before he became a Hollywood icon. Eastwood was a caddie in Oakland when he was only 12 years old.
He is currently the owner of the Tehama Golf Club in Carmel, California, a private, 6,506-yard course, and he was a co-owner of the legendary Pebble Beach Golf Links.
He even famously appeared in a USGA advertisement alongside Arnold Palmer to promote pace of play, in an attempt to speed up the game for casuals.
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