Tiger Woods received criticism for giving Justin Thomas a tampon on Thursday as he was playing at Riviera Golf Course alongside Thomas and Rory McIlroy with the video now viral
Tiger Woods has lost some of his popularity.
For the first time in seven months, the 15-time major champion played competitive golf once more. However, a bizarre incident involving Justin Thomas receiving a tampon from Woods at the Genesis Invitational on Thursday overshadowed the hype of his return.
When Woods outdrove Thomas on the ninth hole at Riviera Country Club, he looked to pull a joke on Rory McIlroy and the other players. The 47-year-old gave something to his golfing companion as he and Woods walked side by side. Thomas picked it up and threw it to the ground after realising what it was. The two players then started giggling as they walked on.
Tiger Woods gives Justin Thomas a tampon during the Genesis Invitational, video goes viral
Tiger Woods had a gift for Justin Thomas after driving it past him on number nine.
(via @GettyImages) pic.twitter.com/HXZEQSAhEU
— Rick Gehman (@RickRunGood) February 17, 2023
Yes, Tiger Woods 100% handed Justin Thomas a tampon after he outdrove him. pic.twitter.com/VJbfldyXhw
— Busted Coverage (@bustedcoverage) February 17, 2023
Fans slammed Tiger Woods.
Fans slammed Woods as “embarrassingly immature” after footage of the incident was posted on social media. For the first time in seven months, the 15-time major champion played competitive golf. He last competed at the Open Championship in St. Andrews in July. Thomas accepted Woods’ joke in good humour, while other social media users criticised the golfing legend
Author and attorney Julie DiCaro tweeted: “Ugh. The joke denigrates women, yet the guys all find it hilarious. Very outdated and foolish. Tiger Woods has not yet responded to the most recent controversy in the media.
Call me woke. Call me a snowflake. Call me “offended”. Whatever. But handing another male golfer a tampon is objectively not funny. It shows the sophistication of a 14 year old schoolboy. @TigerWoods
— Josh Jeffery (@JeffCarnage) February 17, 2023
Who is Justin Thomas?
On April 29, 1993, Justin Thomas was born, and he grew up in Louisville, Kentucky. He was a student at North Oldham Middle. In August 2009, he participated in the Wyndham Championship on the PGA Tour, where he earned the distinction of being the third-youngest player to make the cut.
Thomas completed his studies at St. Xavier High School in 2011. At the University of Alabama, he played golf for a living. Since 1990, Mike Thomas, Thomas’ father, has served as the club’s head professional at Goshen, Kentucky’s Harmony Landing Country Club.
He had a breakthrough year in 2017, winning the FedEx Cup and five PGA Tour competitions. He won the PGA Championship in 2017 and 2022, giving him two major golf championship victories. In May 2018, Thomas became the 21st golfer to hold the top spot in the Official World Golf Ranking.
In 2021, during the third round of the Sentry Tournament of Champions in Hawaii, Thomas became the centre of controversy. He received criticism for venting his rage after a missed putt by using a homophobic slur.