Tiger Woods has been slammed for a "crass" tampon prank which has been branded as "bizarre and insensitive" by a Sky Sports commentator.
Woods has been out of competitive action for seven months due to a leg and ankle injury, which he suffered during a high-speed car crash in February 2021. Despite admitting that the injury problems still plague him "day to day" Woods was competing at the Genesis Invitational PGA Tour event which began on Thursday.
Paired in a star-studded group with Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas a ninth hole joke has landed Tiger in hot water. Woods hit his drive further than Thomas from the tee before slipping a tampon in the hand of his friend.
Two-time PGA Championship winner Thomas smiled at the prank but eagle eyed viewers including Sky Sports commentator Sarah Stirk were less amused. Stirk suggested that Woods was telling his rival that he 'drives the ball like a woman'. She also thought that Tiger was inferring that female players 'are inferior' to their male counterparts.
"My overriding feelings: completely surprised and, being honest, really disappointed." said Stirk on commentary. "I think it was crass to be honest. They're good friends, Tiger Woods and JT (Thomas). Play a lot a together, good buddies. It was seemingly done in jest.
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"To me, this laddy, blokey behaviour, passing the tampon, and effectively saying 'I've outdriven you, you're driving the ball like a woman' is the inference of the incident that happened. And that, to me, says females are inferior to men.
"I just think that's not what we want to be showcasing in the world of sport right now. It was crass. It was disappointing and I think there's surprise from my side, utter bewilderment."
Woods has 82 PGA Tour wins to his name, a record only matched by the legendary Sam Snead. Due to his inactivity on the golfing circuit - only playing in the Masters, PGA Championship and the Open last year - Woods has dropped to 1,294 in the Official World Golf Ranking.
A record-breaking victory this weekend would see Woods shoot up over 1200 places in world rankings. Strik was left surprised that the golf icon would joke around with a tampon.
She added: "I'm surprised the most recognisable golfer on the planet has put himself in this position to be exposed in this way. A tampon is an intimate, female hygiene product. To see it in that scenario is just wrong, odd. It was bizarre and insensitive."
