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After their drive on the ninth hole, Tiger Woods’ shot landed further than opponent Justin Thomas’, with Woods then handing Thomas a tampon as they walked down the fairway.
After their drive on the ninth hole, Tiger Woods’ shot landed further than opponent Justin Thomas’, with Woods then handing Thomas a tampon as they walked down the fairway.
Tiger Woods’ behaviour has been criticised as “crass” and “disappointing” after he handed Justin Thomas a tampon during the opening round of the Genesis Invitational on Thursday.
Woods was grouped with Thomas and Rory McIlroy at Riviera Country Club as the 15-time major champion returned to competitive golf for the first time in seven months, having last played at July’s Open Championship at St Andrews.
The 47-year-old was able to outdrive both of his younger opponents on occasions at the Los Angeles course, and on the ninth hole, Woods hit it further than Thomas and then handed him a tampon as the pair walked towards their second shots.
Thomas, the world No 7, took the tampon before quickly dropping it on the floor, after which the pair could be seen laughing and embracing.
Neither Woods or Thomas were asked about the incident in their post-round interviews.
Sky Sports’ Sarah Stirk calls incident “crass” and “disappointing”
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Sky Sports’ Sarah Stirk criticised Tiger Woods’ behaviour, describing it as ‘crass’ and ‘disappointing’ after he was filmed handing Justin Thomas a tampon during the opening round of the Genesis Invitational on Thursday.
“My overriding feelings are complete surprise and being honest, really disappointed,” the presenter told Sky Sports News.
“I’m a female working in sport. I’m passionate and love the game of golf. I think we’re all striving for equality and we’ve all seen massive inroads which everybody is doing when it comes to promoting women’s sport, media exposure and increase in participation levels.
“We want women’s sport to be on a playing field with men and I think this incident was extremely disappointing. I think it was crass to be honest.
“They’re two good friends. JT and Tiger Woods, good buddies, play a lot together. Tiger Woods outdrove Justin Thomas. It was seemingly done in jest. To me it was laddy, blokey behaviour, passing him the tampon effectively saying: ‘I’ve outdriven you’, ‘you’re driving the ball like a women’, effectively the inference of the incident that happened and that to me says females, women are inferior to men.
“‘I’ve outdriven you’, ‘you’ve driven the ball a shorter distance than I have and therefore women are inferior to men’.
“I think that’s not what we want to be showcasing in the world of sport. It was crass, it was disappointing and I think surprise from my side because he’s playing in the Genesis on the PGA Tour. It’s a tournament that he hosts.”
“Women should not be portrayed as being inferior to men in any walk of life and certainly on a sporting landscape, women, girls should not be made to feel like they’re inferior”
Sarah Stirk on Woods incident
Stirk continued: “He’s been out of the limelight for a while. He’s been injured. He comes back and there are multiple cameras with millions, billions watching around the world and a joke that he thought was private clearly has been picked up. A lot of people have jumped on this and, no wonder, because it’s extremely disappointing and I’m surprised the most recognisable golfer on the planet has put himself in this position to be exposed in this way.
“Tiger is a wonderful ambassador for the game of golf with 15 major championships. He has an unbelievable foundation and provides support for disadvantaged kids around the world. He’s an ambassador and a superstar. I would have personally expected a bit better. He’s in the public domain all the time.
“It can be seen as laddy behaviour but I just think what it says, the inference is not good. Women should not be portrayed as being inferior to men in any walk of life and certainly on a sporting landscape, women, girls should not be made to feel like they’re inferior.
“Showcasing females to be inferior to men and being the butt of an in-joke between two men was really poor.”
She added: “All the media attention was on his return. He was playing in that marquee three alongside JT and Rory McIlroy. It was supposed to be a private incident but it’s now been highlighted. It’s been showcased on social media and I don’t think he was asked about it.
“I think he needs to be asked about it because in the cold light of day, if he reflects on it Tiger is a father of two and he’s supportive of his kids. He loves his kids to bits.
“I think if he reflects and looks back on this, is this the sort of incident he want to be showcased and be blown up on TV? I think not!
“A tampon is an intimate women’s hygiene product so to see it in that scenario was just wrong, it was odd, it was bizarre and it was insensitive.”
The American duo and four-time major winner McIlroy will play together again on Friday, as they attempt to make the cut and advance to the weekend at the PGA Tour event.
Woods shot 69 to finish the first round two-under, five shots back from leaders Keith Mitchell and Max Homa.
“A tampon is an intimate women’s hygiene product so to see it in that scenario was just wrong, it was odd, it was bizarre and it was insensitive”
Sky Sports’ presenter Sarah Stirk
Former golfer Sophie Walker says incident was ‘pre-meditated’
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Former ladies star Sophie Walker has called on Woods to apologise
“We’re all striving for equality, and then Tiger Woods goes and does something stupid like this. I think he’s going to look back at it and think: ‘What have I done there?,” said the TV analyst and presenter.
“What disappoints me more so is that it wasn’t just an off-the-cuff thing, it was pre-meditated, because I’m pretty sure he doesn’t carry tampons on him normally.
“Us women all have periods, I know some men find it quite hard to say that out loud. It’s just crass by Tiger, really poor, he just needs to come out and say ‘I’ve made a mistake, it won’t happen again, I need to sort things out’
“He’s the leader of our game, whatever happens all eyes are on Tiger Woods. He should know better, and he’s made a mistake, and he needs to say sorry.”
What other reaction has there been?
Dr Ann Olivarius, a lawyer specialising in equality and anti-discrimination litigation, tweeted: “See, it’s funny because feminine hygiene products are INHERENTLY emasculating, so when a man makes another man touch a tampon, he’s saying “I am a bigger and better man than you, because, GROSS, I made you touch a wrapped Tampax!”
Julie DiCaro, a lawyer and author, tweeted: “Ugh. All the guys think this is hilarious, but the joke is denigrating women. So played out and stupid.”
Golf influencer Paige Spiranac, tweeted: “I need a LIV vs PGA tour Ryder Cup type event just so Tiger can give Phil a tampon after out driving him.”
Anna Caplice, Ireland rugby player, tweeted: “If the world generally respected women I would be able to see the funny side of this. But it doesn’t. So I don’t.”
What is Woods’ relationship with Thomas?
Woods (right) and Justin Thomas are close friends
Woods, 47, and Thomas, 29, have developed a close friendship over the years and live near each other in Florida.
The pair have played together many times, with their bond best displayed at the PNC Championship, where Woods and his 14-year-old son Charlie have been paired with Thomas and his dad.
Describing their relationship, Woods said: “We have become so close that I think Charlie’s like Justin’s little brother he never had and Justin has become the little brother I never had. We are extremely close with the family and we do a lot of things together, and to be able to have that experience tomorrow again.”
When Woods was recovering from his 2021 car crash that left him with serious injuries, Thomas was visibly emotional when asked about his friend. He said: “I’m sick to my stomach. It hurts to see one of my closest friends get in an accident, and man, I just hope he’s all right. I just worry for his kids. I’m sure they’re struggling.”
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