Mark SchlabachESPN Senior Writer4:12 PM ET2 Minute Read
Tiger Woods apologizes for pranking Justin Thomas
Tiger Woods explains his intentions with his prank on Justin Thomas and apologizes to anyone who was offended.
LOS ANGELES — Tiger Woods apologized Friday and said he didn’t want to offend anyone in the first round of Thursday’s Genesis Invitational with what he called a prank.
After Woods’ drive shot on the ninth hole at Riviera Country Club went 20 yards past Justin Thomas’ ball, Woods secretly passed a tampon to Thomas’ right hand as they walked down the fairway. Thomas immediately dropped it to the ground and Woods put his arm around Thomas’ shoulders as they laughed.
“Yeah, it was just meant to be fun and games and obviously it didn’t turn out that way,” Woods said. “If I offended anyone, that wasn’t the case, it was just friends having fun.”
Woods said he and Thomas, his close friend, played pranks on each other during rounds. Woods drew criticism from some for Thursday’s action, which some critics called sexist.
“Like I said, if I’ve offended anyone in any way, I’m sorry,” Woods said. “It wasn’t intended that way. We just play pranks on each other all the time, and I think it didn’t go viral that way, but between us it was — it’s different.”
Woods, 47, was playing in his first official PGA Tour event in almost seven months. In the second round he carded a 3-over-74. With a 36-hole total of 1 over, Woods was in danger of missing the cut in a tournament he hosted that he has never won.