We present a study using a method able to assess tissue oxygenation, taking into account the absorption and the level of scattering in myocardial tissue using a calibrated fiber optic probe. With this method, interindividual comparisons of oxygenation can be made despite varying tissue optical properties during coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). During CABG, there are needs for methods allowing continuous monitoring and prediction of the metabolism in the myocardial tissue. 14 patients undergoing CABG are investigated for tissue oxygenation during different surgical phases using a handheld fiber optic spectroscopic probe with a source-detector distance of less than 1 mm. The probe is calibrated using a light transport model, relating the absorption and reduced scattering coefficients (mu(a) and mu(s)') to the measured spectra. By solving the inverse problem, absolute measures of tissue oxygenation are evaluated by the sum of oxygenized hemoglobin and myoglobin. Agreement between the model and measurements is obtained with an average correlation coefficient R2 of 0.96. Oxygenation is found to be significantly elevated after aorta cross-clamping and cardioplegic infusion, as well as after reperfusion, compared to a baseline (p<0.05). Tissue oxygenation decreases during cardiac arrest and increases after reperfusion.