Blake Griffin encountered a comical setback at a high-profile golf tournament, arriving at the first tee without his clubs due to a simple miscommunication during warm-up.
The First Tee Fiasco
Amateur players, including celebrities and athletes, often join professionals like Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler at events such as the Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Griffin, a six-time NBA All-Star, experienced a classic amateur blunder. During pre-round preparations on the putting green with 15 minutes to go, his caddie Tyler announced a bathroom break.
Griffin recalled the moment: “My caddie from Lakeside, Tyler, we’re on the putting green before the first day, and we got 15 minutes. So we putt a little bit, and he’s like, ‘Okay, I’m gonna go to the bathroom, you need some balls right?’ And I’m like, ‘Yeah, grab me some balls. I’ll meet you on the first tee.’”
As Griffin headed to the tee, a tournament official urged him to hurry. Sharing the group with NFL star Baker Mayfield and NBA legend Vince Carter, Griffin watched Mayfield tee off first. His caddie remained absent. Officials announced Carter next, who teed off before offering Griffin a club amid laughter from the crowd.
Griffin noted the mishap eased the pressure: “And Vince goes, ‘Do you want one of my clubs?’, and everybody kind of laughs. And that actually helped, because they saw me grab Vince’s clubs, they saw my caddie wasn’t there. I hit a solid shot for my first tee shot, and I think it was only because that took the pressure off.”
His caddie soon arrived, allowing Griffin to continue with his own equipment.
Griffin’s Golf Evolution
Since retiring from the NBA in 2023, Griffin has immersed himself in golf. Starting as a novice shooting scores in the 120s, he dropped his handicap to around 11.4-13 by late 2024 through dedicated practice.
He claimed his first celebrity win at the 8AM Invitational in Las Vegas and holds membership at Lakeside Golf & Country Club in Los Angeles. Griffin regularly features in televised events, including The Match: Superstars—where his banter with Charles Barkley drew attention—the American Century Championship in Tahoe, and the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions alongside LPGA pros.
Despite his athletic prowess, Griffin has shared his initial nerves in front of large crowds, making the clubless start a lighthearted distraction.
