Kenny G’s Unexpected Encounter with Tiger Woods
Kenny G’s Unexpected Encounter with Tiger Woods
In a surprising twist of celebrity golf history, saxophonist Kenny G found himself in an unforgettable moment with Tiger Woods during the 2001 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Known for his smooth melodies, Kenny is not the first person you’d expect to hurl an expletive at a golfing legend, but the circumstances certainly warranted it.
That year, the event culminated in a thrilling finish. Davis Love III narrowly defeated Vijay Singh in the PGA Tour segment, while Kenny G and Phil Mickelson were vying for the pro-am title against Tiger and his friend Jerry Chang. As the final hole approached, Kenny and Phil stumbled, leading to a tie at 34 under.
As Kenny walked off the green, his flip phone rang—a reminder of the early 2000s. To his surprise, it was Tiger Woods on the line.
“Kenny, it’s Tiger,” Woods said. Kenny recalled his immediate response: “How the f— did you get my number?” Tiger, in typical fashion, teased him, saying, “Hey man, I wanted to watch the last hole. You really choked, didn’t you?”
Kenny shot back, “Hey, Tiger, f— you!” But rather than take offense, Woods laughed and congratulated him, expressing pride in sharing the trophy.
Kenny reflected on the exchange, highlighting Woods’ playful nature. “That’s Tiger for you. He can dish it out and take it too,” he said.
Phil Mickelson chimed in post-event, praising Kenny’s skill: “He made clutch putts and averaged two or three birdies per round. He’s a fundamentally solid player.”
While “G” in Kenny G stands for Gorelick, perhaps it could just as easily stand for Golf, thanks to this legendary moment.
