Sexism is alive and well in golf, as reaffirmed by Tiger’s tampon stunt at The Genesis Invitational this weekend. Right now, we should be lauding Tiger’s opening round 2-under 69 and miraculous journey of recovery since his car accident during this very event exactly two years ago. We should be eagerly anticipating another win by Max Homa. But instead we are reminded once again how Tiger and the average male golfer truly feel about women and how women and our bodies are used as euphemisms for weakness.

I suppose Tiger Woods missed the memo that it’s no longer cool or acceptable to make fun of women for a normal biological function anymore. He’s 47 years old, on national TV, and has an adolescent daughter who gets a period, how could he think that was OK? And what types of «jokes» does he make when there are no cameras? Was it shocking that a crusty degenerate such as himself, with all of his ailments and surgeries, could outdrive a much younger, healthier, Justin Thomas? Definitely suspicious, but did it warrant a cheap sexist jab directed at JT? Not at all.

Why is it an insult to call someone a woman? That’s as if to say it is insulting and shameful to be a woman. Why is it an insult to get a period? A period is not a sign of weakness, it’s a sign of strength. And it’s not posh or cool to make fun of women for getting a period nor use it as an insult. As a matter of fact, let’s stop using women and their body parts as euphemisms for weakness. Let’s stop using the word pussy to mean weak; a pussy is infinitely stronger than any dick could ever dream to be. Menstruation actually makes women stronger than men; we can do anything and we can do it in pain, nauseous, with debilitating cramps, and while actively bleeding. 

Tiger would never be able to accomplish anything he has if he were a woman, no man would, because they would be doubled over in pain and complaining about their periods, instead of just getting up and getting on with the day like every woman has since the dawn of time.  Women get through life in unbearable pain every single damn day and we are stronger and more resilient than any man will ever be including and especially Eldrick Tiger Woods. Our bodies, uteruses, and pussies have proven to be infinitely stronger than any man’s hairline, erection, or ego for that matter. Have you ever seen how a man reacts when you point out his baldness or erectile dysfunction? They are far more insecure about their lack of hair and lack of boners than any woman ever was about her period.

Folks have been postulating about where he may have procured this tampon. By the looks of the ancient packaging, it’s obviously a cardboard tampon, a style no sane woman would ever willingly purchase save in an emergency. I would venture to say he snagged it out of the women’s locker room at The Riviera; where else would you be able to find such an outdated style tampon other than an underused women’s locker room at a musty old private golf club that never wanted women there in the first place?

«Grow the game», they say, as they call the forward tees «ladies tees». «Grow the game», they say, as they call each other pussies for laying up. «Grow the game», they say, as they prohibit women from playing on their course at specific times. «Grow the game», they say, as they like and share another sexist meme from a golf «humor» page. «Grow the game», they say, as they support scantily clad golf «models» instead of professional female golfers. «Grow the game», they say, as they define the acronym of GOLF as «Gentlemen Only Ladies Forbidden». «Grow the game», they say, but they refuse to support equal pay for female professional tours. How can we truly grow the game when sexism and hatred towards women is so pervasive, I would even dare to say inherent, in golf? How can we truly grow the game when the game’s biggest icon and poster boy participates in, validates, and is unapologetic about his casual sexism?

You cannot have both; you cannot say you want to «grow the game» while continuing to foster a toxic, putrid culture for women both on the course and virtually in golf media and social media. You cannot have both; you cannot ogle and jerk off to women in short golf skirts while also using those same bodies as vehicles for insult, scorn, and disdain. You cannot say you support women in golf if you equate our very existence with fragility and failure. You cannot promote «international women’s golf day» and simultaneously use women and their bodies as insults on the golf course. Women are only seen as customers in the golf world, people to consume and purchase but not participate. Companies sell us needless junk and Lily Pullitzer-tablecloth-looking garb while promoting new technology to men.

Weak men are too embarrassed to be seen using «women’s» golf clubs, even though at their age and skill level, they should really be using an L flex shaft. Weak men are too bashful to move up a tee box despite struggling to get off the tee and holding up groups behind them. Weak men create, laugh at, and disseminate golf humor rooted in sexism, i.e. PGA Memes, Barstool, scum of that nature. I have a theory that these men do not want to include women at all, hence they try to dissuade us by perpetuating sexist stereotypes and preserving the «boy’s club». Well, I’m here to tell you that we’re not going anywhere, no matter what you do, what you say, or how you try to degrade and condescend us. Unless we can eradicate golf media and culture of this vitriol towards women both in public and behind closed doors, the game will never truly be welcoming to all.

This is a call to action to all professional and amateur male golfers to be better; dare to call out casual sexist comments when you hear them & choose insults that do not degrade others based on gender. Even simply by not engendering the tee boxes, you are making a statement of support. Not all of us have the reach or influence that Tiger does, but we can all do small acts to change the way we speak about and treat women in golf. This is also a call to Tiger to look inward and ask yourself why you, as a near geriatric, thought this stunt would be funny and how you thought this would inspire more young girls to pick up a golf club.