Clint Eastwood saves tournament director from choking
Actor-director performs the Heimlich manoeuvre at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am
Clint Eastwood added another starring role at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am – life saver.
Eastwood attended a volunteer party on the eve of the PGA Tour event when he noticed tournament director Steve John choking on a piece of cheese. The 83-year-old actor quickly performed the Heimlich manoeuvre on Wednesday night at the Monterey Conference Centre.
“I was drinking water and eating these little appetizers, threw down a piece of cheese and it just didn’t work,” John said. “I was looking at him and couldn’t breathe. He recognized it immediately and saved my life.”
Eastwood is a prominent figure at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, formerly as an amateur contestant and now as chairman of the Monterey Peninsula Foundation. It has raised over US$100 million for charity as the host of the PGA Tour event.
He’s often in the CBS tower on the weekend and presents the trophy to the winner, a list that includes Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Brandt Snedeker in recent years.
The Hollywood star wasn’t expecting an additional duty this week.
“I looked in his eyes and saw that look of panic people have when they see their life passing before their eyes,” Eastwood said. “It looked bad.”
He said it was the first time he had used the Heimlich manoeuvre.
“I can’t believe I’m 202 pounds and he threw me up in the air three times,” John said.
The party is one of the biggest nights of the week. Volunteers are entertained by the celebrities such as musician Kenny G and comedian Tom Dreesen.
The 50-year-old John said it was the second time in his life someone had to perform the Heimlich on him.
“It was in Colorado about seven or eight years ago,” he said.
Meanwhile, American Jimmy Walker edged one step closer to a third victory on the 2013-14 PGA Tour when he moved into an tie for the lead after the rain-delayed second round.
FedExCup points leader Walker, who won the season-opening Frys.com Open in October and last month’s Sony Open in Hawaii, fired a three-under-par 69 at Spyglass Hill, one of three venues being used this week, to sit on nine-under after 36 holes.
The 34-year-old collected three birdies in a bogey-free display in mainly overcast, breezy conditions to finish level with fellow American Jordan Spieth, who returned a six-birdie 67 at Monterey Peninsula.
Spieth, the 2013 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year who clinched his maiden title at the John Deere Classic in July, birdied his final hole, the par-three ninth, to join Walker at the top.
