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Tiger Woods has offered an apology of sorts after coming under fire for jokingly handing playing partner Justin Thomas a tampon for outdriving him during a PGA Tour event in southern California.
The incident occurred as the American duo walked off the ninth tee during the first round of the Genesis Invitational with Thomas – a close friend of Woods – laughing before dropping the female sanitary product on the ground as the 15-time major champion put his arm around him.
“It was supposed to be fun and games but obviously it hasn’t turned out that way,” Woods said later when asked about the mostly negative reaction to his prank on social media.
“If I upset anybody it was not the case [sic], it was just friends having fun. And as I said, if I upset anyone in any way, shape or form then I’m sorry. It was not intended to be that way.
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“We play pranks on one another all the time and virally I think this might not come across that way, but between us, it was different.”
Woods, who was making his return to top-level action for the first time since missing the cut at the British Open in July, was in a group with PGA Championship winner Thomas and four-time major winner Rory McIlroy.
His behaviour was widely criticised on social media, with many accusing him of sexism.
Renowned US golf writer Rick Reilly was unimpressed with Woods’ juvenile conduct, writing: “All his humour is gross and tops out at 7th grade.”
Sarah Stir, a sports presenter for Sky Sports in the UK, went further, describing the incident as “extremely disappointing” and “crass”.
“To me it was laddy, blokey behaviour, passing him the tampon effectively saying, ‘I’ve outdriven you’, ‘you’re driving the ball like a woman’”, she wrote on Twitter.
SCREENGRAB
Tiger Woods hands Justin Thomas a tampon as a prize for outdriving him at the Genesis Invitational in California.
“I’m surprised the most recognisable golfer on the planet has put himself in this position to be exposed in this way.”
USA Today columnist Christine Brennan, concurred, saying “insecure” Woods’ message to Thomas was obvious: “you play like a girl”.
“What a bizarre thing for a “girl dad” to do. His daughter Sam, now 15, grew up playing soccer and had just played in a tournament in Florida when she arrived to watch him win the Masters in 2019.
“… He employed basic misogyny to insult his good friend Thomas, a knee-slapper of a dig against female athletes: You hit the ball like a girl!”
And author Julie DiCaro tweeted: “Ugh. All the guys think this is hilarious, but the joke is denigrating women. So played out and stupid.”
However, not everyone was offended by Woods’ actions. Paige Spiranac, a golf instructor and social media personality, came out in defence of the 47-year-old, saying it was “funny”.
“If anyone tries to cancel Tiger over this we riot,” Spiranac wrote on Twitter.
“I need a LIV vs PGA tour Ryder Cup type event just so Tiger can give Phil (Mickelson) a tampon after outdriving him,” she added.
Woods, of course, is no stranger to controversy. Two years ago he was recovering from a fifth back surgery when he crashed his car in Los Angeles two days after the Genesis Invitational, suffering multiple fractures of his right leg and ankle.
In November 2009, he was involved in another car crash which led to the public breakdown of his marriage amid revelations of infidelity.
And in 2017, Woods was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence after he was found asleep at the wheel of his car. He later pleaded guilty to reckless driving.
Thomas has also found himself in hot water in the past, using a homophobic slur during the Sentry Tour of Champions in Hawaii in 2021.
Television microphones picked up the American’s remark after he missed a five-foot par putt on the fourth hole. He later apologised, saying it was inexcusable” and he was “extremely embarrassed”.
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