Tiger Woods' prank? Sky Sports commentator: "Mountain out of a molehill!…
Sky Sports golf commentator Tony Johnstone labelled Tiger Woods' tampon prank on Justin Thomas as "a mountain out of a molehill" on the most recent episode of GolfMagic's podcast From The Tips.
Woods, 47, sparked outrage during his PGA Tour comeback at the Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club when he decided to hand two-time major champion Thomas a Tampax after outdriving him on the ninth hole.
The moment spread like wildfire on social media and the original image of the pair chuckling down the fairway like two school boys has been viewed millions of times.
After making the cut on the number, Woods apologised for his premeditated joke, adding: "It was not intended to be that way."
Despite saying sorry, Woods was still lambasted.
Olympic sprinting legend Michael Johnson claimed the decorated golfer had "learnt nothing" from his past transgressions.
Woods crashed his car into a fire hydrant in 2009 which led to admissions of his infidelity and the end of his marriage to Elin Nordegren.
In 2017 Woods was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence after he was found asleep behind the wheel of his car. He later admitted reckless driving.
Woods then crashed his luxury SUV in the hills of Los Angeles in February 2021.
Asked by our Andy Roberts and Harry Benjamin about the latest controversial moment of Woods' career, six-time European Tour winner Johnstone said:
"He got some stick for the prank that he pulled with Justin Thomas. You know, maybe it was meant to be a joke, maybe it was a bit crass maybe he could've saved it and put it in the guy's locker or something.
"But for god's sake, you know, I don't know. I'm not a lady so maybe I'm not as sensitive to it but it was meant to be a joke and to me, you know, whatever you say on the subject you are going to get shot down in flames whichever way you go."
Johnstone, 66, continued:
"But I think it was blown completely out of proportion. I really do. I'll probably get flack for saying that [but] that's exactly the sort of thing we would've done on tour [and] it's probably the sort of thing I do with my mates now.
"But you probably do it in private. You know, Tiger, every single move he makes is televised. He does know that. Tiger is no fool. I've played with Tiger. Tiger is no idiot. But it is what it is. He apologised. Jeez. Can we just move on? Please?"
"Is anybody missing Phil Mickelson?"
Woods has now targeted appearing at all four major championships in 2023.
Johnstone was asked if Woods is more determined now at 47 given that his old foe Phil Mickelson ticked off a major at 50.
He said:
"I don't think Phil Mickelson even comes into Tiger's thought process. And quite rightly so. Mickelson is gone. Done and dusted. Is anybody missing him? I'm certainly not.
"Tiger is completely focused on what he does.
"As the week went on [at the Genesis Invitational] I think it was a huge success for Tiger. He is a different man now to what he was. He's got more empathy."
Johnstone said this heart-warming moment would not have happened 20 years ago as Woods was so focused on the task at hand:
"Talk about making a mountain out of a molehill," Johnstone said referencing, Woods' prank again. We shouldn't go down that rabbit hole when it was meant as a joke.
He added:
"But the overall picture [of Tiger], I think it's unbelievable. You know, when you look at the guy, you can see that his right calf is miniscule.
Woods has repeatedly explained just what it takes to get into a position where he can tee it up for four days in a row.
It's not super complicated, but it involves a lot of ice baths, stretching, massages and taping.
Johnstone continued:
"I think he's lost all of his muscle mass [there]. It's bowed outwards. He's walking with a distinct hobble and I can't think of anybody else that could do that in the situation that he's in. It's just unbelievable.
"I mean, we all write off Tiger at our peril. The guy is... it's mind-blowing actually that the guy could go out there, make the cut, play as well as he did and on the 18th green [at Riviera and receive] the reaction from the crowd when he putted out.
"I mean, there's three guys that move the needle. Him, Rory and Jon Rahm. That's about it. I mean it was just, I can't get my head around what the guy can achieve and his determination.
"His determination to, you know, we watch him hobbling around the course hitting good shots and playing good golf but imagine what's gone into that behind-the-scenes to get himself back into that shape to actually play.
Johnstone reckons Woods winning his sixth green jacket now is a tall order.
He said:
"I think Augusta, watching him walk, I think Augusta is going to be a tough ask of him. It's so undulating. [But] I think Hoylake [venue of the 2023 Open] being flatter, being a course that he's won on, you don't need length around there, I could see Tiger pulling that off. I really could."
But what about beating Sam Snead's record of 82 PGA Tour victories?
"If I said no, you could categorise me in the moron class. Because we just know better. The first time he went away we thought that was it.
"I personally thought - like a fool - that Tiger won't compete again. He came out and he won. [We were thinking] this is unbelievable. How does this guy do it?
"Would he win a major? Absolutely not. No chance whatsoever. It's impossible [given] what he's been through. [Then he became] Masters champion."
What do you think of Johnstone's comments about Tiger? Agree? Disagree? Don't hesitate to Tweet us your thoughts.
