Correction/clarification: A previous version of this story incorrectly reported Kultida Woods’ age at the time of her death. She was 80.
Kultida Woods, the mother of Tiger Woods, has died, the golf superstar announced Tuesday.
She was 80. No cause of death was announced.
Woods said in a social media post that his mother was his ‘biggest fan, greatest supporter, without her none of my personal achievements would have been possible.’ She attended Tiger’s TGL match last week in Florida.
‘It is with heartfelt sadness that I want to share that my dear mother, Kultida Woods, passed away early this morning. My Mom was a force of nature all her own, her spirit was simply undeniable. She was quick with the needle and a laugh,’ Woods said. ‘She was loved by so many, but especially by her two grandchildren, Sam and Charlie. Thank you all for your support, prayers and privacy at this difficult time for me and my family. Love you Mom.’
Kultida Woods, who was from Thailand, met Tiger’s father, Earl, during the Vietnam War. They moved to New York and married in 1969 before settling in California. The 15-time major winner’s father died in 2006. The two were married for 37 years.
In a 2017 interview with USA TODAY Sports, Woods said his parents never pushed him to play golf and never were disappointed no matter what score he shot.
“My dad was always the person who would plant seeds and give me encouragement but also would say things that would fester inside me that wouldn’t come to fruition for a while,” Woods said in 2017. “He was very worldly and deep in his thinking.
‘My mom was the enforcer. My dad may have been in the Special Forces, but I was never afraid of him. My mom’s still here, and I’m still deathly afraid of her. She’s a very tough, tough old lady, very demanding. She was the hand, she was the one, I love her so much, but she was tough.’
Woods paid tribute to his mother last year when he received the Bob Jones Award, the highest honor given by the United States Golf Association.
“My mom doesn’t get enough credit,” Woods said during the award ceremony. “Everyone thought that it was my dad when I went on the road, which it was, but Mom was at home. If you don’t know, Mom has been there my entire life.
“This award, I accept it in humbleness and just unbelievable regard for the past recipients, but I also accept it for my mommy, too. She allowed me to get here. She allowed me to do these things, chase my dreams, and the support and love — I didn’t do this alone. I had the greatest rock that any child could possibly have: my mom. Thank you, Mommy.”
Tiger Woods is the host of the Genesis Invitational, which was moved to Torrey Pines in San Diego, set to start Feb. 13. Woods has not said whether he will compete in the tournament, which was moved from the Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles due to the wildfires in southern California.
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