Playing his first PGA event of 2023, all eyes were on Tiger Woods Thursday at The Genesis Invitational in Los Angeles (where he broke his leg in a serious car accident two years ago), birdieing his final three holes to card an opening-round 69 (-2). However, Woods’ return following a seven-month hiatus wasn’t without controversy, taunting his opponent and close friend Justin Thomas by handing him a tampon after outdriving him on the ninth hole.
Woods was one of the sport’s longest hitters in his prime, though injuries have sapped much of his strength, reducing him to part-time status, only competing in a handful of events each year. Despite his diminished power, the 47-year-old blasted a 331-yard tee shot straight down the fairway, landing well clear of Thomas’ ball 40 yards back.
While some found his prank amusing, others didn’t, including ESPN’s Sarah Spain, who ripped Woods for an immature gag perpetuating negative female stereotypes. “Heads up, boys. Nothing makes you look weaker and smaller than needing to degrade women to make yourself feel powerful,” the Around the Horn panelist opined on Instagram. “The most confident, secure, successful, (sexy!) men I know are the least intimidated by powerful women and the most supportive of equality. I promise you women are more attracted to that than this antiquated, sexist, tiny dick energy bulls--.”
Spain’s former ESPN colleague, Jemele Hill, agreed wholeheartedly, criticizing Woods for the kind of humor she’d expect from a “fifth grader.” While this controversy likely won’t result in Woods getting “canceled,” it’s not a smart look for a highly-scrutinized public figure who should probably know better, even if his crude, misogynistic stunt was meant as a private joke among friends. It would also suggest Woods hasn’t learned much from his past indiscretions—including a highly publicized cheating scandal and a rehab stint for sex addiction—continuing to mock women while treating them as inferior to men.
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