"I wish he didn't apologize": Female golfers come to Tiger Woods' rescue in tampon incident with Justin Thomas
The incident took place during the first round at the Genesis Invitational last Thursday. Woods placed something in fellow golfer Justin Thomas' hand discreetly. The latter dropped the object after realizing it was a tampon. This was done after Woods had bested his playing partner on the ninth hole.
Critics claim this was his way of insinuating that Thomas played like a girl. He informed reporters after last Friday's second round at the Riviera Country Club that the incident was meant to be a joke and that he did not mean to offend anyone.
Reactions to Woods public apology for his joke involving the tampon
“If I offended anybody, it was not the case, it was just friends having fun. As I said, if I offended anybody in any way, shape or form, I’m sorry. It was not intended to be that way. It was just we play pranks on one another all the time and virally I think this did not come across that way, but between us it was – it’s different,” said Woods.
He received major backlash through social media for his joke.
The managing editor for USA Today's For The Win, Alex McDaniel, wrote in his tweet:
“If tiger spent three months a year bleeding and coping with period pain, they’d make a whole-ass documentary about how champions overcome insurmountable obstacles.”
However, several female golfers seem to have found humor in his jest and claim to have not been offended by his actions. A professional golfer-turned-influencer, Paige Spiranac wrote:
"If anyone tries to cancel Tiger over this we riot. It's funny."
Many female golfers came to his defense and made it clear that golfer's actions needn't be regarded as inappropriate.
"I wish he didn't apologize"
Female golfers have spoken and we are NOT offended by @TigerWoods giving @JustinThomas34 a tampon. It’s funny, get over it! 🙄😂
#tampongate #golf #tigerwoods #justinthomas https://t.co/2qzfukupgd
The amiable response from the female professionals came after the severe backlash that ensued following Woods' actions.
One tweet read:
“Call me woke. Call me a snowflake. Call me ‘offended’. Whatever. But handing another male golfer a tampon is objectively not funny,"
Author of the Ryder Cup book, Shane Ryan also chimed in to convey his displeasure at the player's jest.
"Tiger Woods' humour has always been slightly lame, dumb-jock type of stuff, but becoming a prop comic? That's a new low," wrote Ryan.
One user suggested he donate to The Period Project, a charity that works on raising awareness about how hard periods are to be handled by the poor and helps make sanitary products accessible to the homeless and others in need.
Undergoing an arduous recovery process due to his leg injury acquired in a car accident two years ago, the pro golfer has made selective appearances for competitive purposes. The Genesis Invitational is his first tournament since the Open Championship last July and his first non-major PGA event since the ZOZO Championship, which took place in October 2020. He is gradually climbing his way back up again.