The golf pro added during a news conference, “We play pranks on one another all the time, and virally, I think, this did not come across that way.” After receiving internet criticism for giving his friend and fellow competitor Justin Thomas a tampon during the first round of the Genesis Open this week, Tiger Woods has issued an apology.
For the Genesis Open at Riviera Country Club, Tiger Woods, at age 47, beat out Thomas, at age 29, on the ninth hole with a drive of 323 yards, to Thomas’ 313 yards. Thomas was walking with Woods up the fairway when Woods placed a tampon into his hand.
Thomas quickly dropped the tampon and the two began to chuckle. In a news conference following Friday’s second round of the Open, the 15-time major winner addressed the event, which some critics online called as “sexist.” He said it was only a “prank” amongst pals.
According to ESPN, Woods remarked, “Yes, it was meant to be all fun and games, and obviously it hasn’t turned out that way.” I apologize if I upset anyone; it was all in good fun. To repeat, Woods apologized “if I offended anybody in any way, shape, or form.”
We didn’t mean for it to turn out that way. With us, it was — it’s different; we pull pranks on one other all the time, and I don’t think this came across that way on the internet at large. Alex McDaniel, managing editor of USA Today’s For The Win, was among those who took to Twitter to express their displeasure with the incident after it aired on Thursday.
Did Tiger Woods go to the store… and buy a box of tampons? And tuck one into his golf bag? For this "hilarious" stunt? Or did he swipe it off his teenage daughter? So many questions. So little laughter.
— Alison Hall (@AlisonReporting) February 17, 2023
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A whole-ass documentary on how champions overcome impossible challenges would be made if the tiger had to deal with menstrual discomfort and heavy bleeding for three months out of the year, she tweeted. After being questioned about the incident during a news conference, England women’s national soccer team manager Sarina Wiegman commented, “I believe it’s really improper what he did.”
According to Resouces, she stated, “I think he realized it too.” “… I think it’s important for you to be aware that you’re a huge role model and can make a great difference in people’s lives.” Some, though, contended that the conversation was not offensive at all.
Jeanna Trotman, a sports anchor for WXYZ 7 in Detroit, tweeted: “There is not a single bone in my body that is offended by Tiger Woods slipping Justin Thomas a tampon strolling down the fairway.” Woods got off to a good start in the Open first round, finishing in a tie for 27th at two under par.
This is something I never thought I would be tweeting, BUT… there is not a single bone in my body that is offended by Tiger Woods slipping Justin Thomas a tampon walking down the fairway. https://t.co/J7fDkfMGCV
— Jeanna Trotman (@JeannaTrotmanTV) February 18, 2023
The defending golfing champion had a less successful second round, shooting a 143 (one over par) to narrowly advance to the final day of competition. I did not putt well today, I blocked a lot of putts early, and this is probably the highest score I could have posted today,” Woods told reporters on Friday, as quoted by Sports Illustrated.
Should have made at least five or six better shots than this, he said. I had some good looks at the hole early and midway through the round, but I missed them both times. And it wasn’t like the putts were particularly difficult; I just put them poorly and struggled to the finish.
This will be Woods’ first competition since The British Open Championship in July, where he missed the cut in the second round and ultimately finished just eight spots above the tournament’s cellar. In addition to missing the Hero World Challenge on November 28.
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Because of plantar fasciitis in his right foot, which he said was “making it difficult to walk,” Woods has been recovering from serious leg injuries he sustained in a car accident in February 2021, which cast doubt on the future of his professional golf career.