Another shock caddie split as LPGA star hires new looper – GolfWRX

Away from the fight for the title, the talk at Riviera last week should have been the return of golfing legend Tiger Woods.

The 15-time major champion was odds-on to miss the cut in his first full event since walking off the course at the halfway mark during the 150th Open at St. Andrews. However, two opening rounds of 69 and 74 saw the 47-year-old defy expectation to play the weekend, a third-round 67 launching him up the board.

And yet, it wasn’t.

Tiger has been under pressure since ending his opening round, all because of what he called “friends having fun.”

During the round, sharp-eyed media spotted Tiger handing his good friend Justin Thomas a tampon – something he tried to hide but could not avoid, thanks to the zoom-in features of social media.

Sky presenter Sarah Stirk was one of a huge amount of industry figures that were disappointed with Tiger’s move.

“My overriding feelings are completely surprised and really disappointed,” said Stirk. “I’m a female working in sport, I’m passionate and love the game of golf, and think we are all striving for equality.

“We’ve all seen the massive inroads everyone is doing promoting women’s sport, there is more media exposure, increase in participation levels, we want women sport to be on a level playing field with men,” she added.

Fellow Sky Golf presenter, Iona Stephen was also critical:

A joke about being less, at the expense of women, isn’t a joke to me.

— Iona Stephen (@Iona_Stephen) February 17, 2023

National Club Golfer‘s Hannah Holden, who asked, “Can someone explain to me why this is funny?” also retweeted a posting from Flushing It that refuted the inferred claim from Tiger, that women can’t ‘flush it.”

At a time where Women’s golf is pushing on to higher and higher levels, I don’t think the “gift” that Tiger gave to JT helps golf’s image. Is it supposed to be funny because women supposedly can’t hit a ball? These players might have to say about that:

pic.twitter.com/4vlNrYkwh2

— Flushing It (@flushingitgolf) February 17, 2023

Probably the biggest negative, however, came from four-time gold-medalist sprinter Michael Johnson, who took to Twitter to call Tiger “Teflon” – saying that whatever he does, nothing sticks.

In just 43 words, the former world record holder at 200m and 400m asks why the media focus on Tiger’s recovery and “never why the need for recovery.”

It’s a damning tweet from an equally respected athlete and pulls very few punches.

Apology starting with “If I offended anyone” is no apology. But this is Tiger. Never been a leader and he’s Teflon. Still heralded after all the mistakes so he’s learned nothing. Media focus always on miraculous recovery. Never why the need for recovery. https://t.co/nFkgo3xtWo

— Michael Johnson (@MJGold) February 18, 2023

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