Fourteen years since kicking off, the "Tiger Jam" fund-raiser again took over the Las Vegas strip, bringing host Tiger Woods and big-names including Jon Bon Jovi and Friends and American Idol-winner David Cook to the stage. Held at the Mandalay Bay Events Center, the sold-out concert and accompanying events raised approximately $1 million for programs of the Tiger Woods Foundation. The foundation's Michelle Bemis oversaw this past weekend's events with her team, working with Mandalay Bay vice president of entertainment Chris Baldizan and his staff, along with Angel City Designs, to produce an array of the program's auctions and parties.
Kicking off the weekend, V.I.P. guests came out to the Cascata Golf Club for a private exhibition with Woods followed by a round of golf. Next, guests competed at an exclusive night of poker, against some of the game’s biggest names, like Phil Hellmuth Jr., who M.C.'d the event and took second place; Ben Lamb, who finished fourth; and Doyle “Texas Dolly” Brunson, who came in first. Proceeds from the Texas Hold ‘Em-style charity poker tournament went directly to the foundation's college-access programs, and the winner received a foursome of golf with Woods. Next, the group gathered at Moorea Beach Club for a performance from The Bravery.
On Saturday, headliners Jon Bon Jovi and Friends took the stage, delivering a performance that included hits like "Livin' on a Prayer" and "You Give Love a Bad Name." Cook opened the show. Live and silent auctions preceded the music, with guests mingling over cocktails and hors d’oeuvres at the Tiger Jam reception. During the live auction, a weekend-skiing package that included a lesson from Olympian Lindsey Vonn went for $20,000, a Maui Jim fishing excursion went for $10,000, a getaway to Turtle Island in Fiji raised $19,000, and the "Ultimate Gastronomic Golf Getaway With Mario Batali" in New York went to the highest bidder for $10,000. After the main concert event, guests returned to the House of Blues for the after-party hosted by M.C. Hammer.
