Tiger Woods is being scrutinised for handing his playing partner Justin Thomas a tampon after outdriving him at the Genesis Invitational in California.
The exchange was made as the American duo walked off the ninth tee on Thursday, with Thomas laughing and throwing the item on the floor amid giggling from both men.
When cameras and photos showed the item exchanged was a tampon, it prompted a mixed reaction on social media. Some criticised 15-time major champion Woods, who has become something of a mentor to his South Florida neighbour and two-time major champion Thomas.
Woods and Thomas, who were both in the same group as four-time major winner Rory McIlroy, were not asked about the incident in their post-round interviews.
Sky Sports presenter Sarah Stir said the incident was "disappointing" and "crass", saying: "To me it was laddy, blokey behaviour, passing him the tampon effectively saying: 'I've outdriven you', 'you're driving the ball like a woman'. I'm surprised the most recognisable golfer on the planet has put himself in this position to be exposed in this way.
"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."
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."
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."
Woods marked his return to competitive action with a closing trio of birdies as he carded 69 during the first round of the Genesis Invitational.
The tournament host was five strokes back from co-leaders Max Homa and Keith Mitchell at Riviera Country Club, after not having played an event without the use of a cart since last summer's Open Championship, when he missed the cut at St Andrews.
The 47-year-old's legs held up on a day where he mixed five birdies with three bogeys on a mild California afternoon.
"I was able to fight back and get it going," Woods said after play. "It was a nice finish."
