Tiger Woods is grieving the loss of his mother, Kultida Woods, who passed away early Tuesday morning at the age of 81. The golf legend shared the heartbreaking news in an emotional statement on Tuesday, calling her a “force of nature” and his biggest supporter.
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. She was my biggest fan, greatest supporter,… pic.twitter.com/RoKd0fsM9J
— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) February 4, 2025
“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,” Woods, 49, wrote on social media. “She was quick with the needle and a laugh. She was my biggest fan, greatest supporter, without her none of my personal achievements would have been possible. She was loved by so many, but especially by her two grandchildren, Sam and Charlie.”
Woods also thanked fans for their support, prayers, and privacy during this difficult time, ending his tribute with a simple but powerful, “Love you Mom.”
Kultida had been a constant presence in Tiger’s life and career, seen supporting him at tournaments and major milestones, including his 2022 induction into the World Golf Hall of Fame. She was in attendance at a TGL match in South Florida just last week, according to NBC Sports.
Born in Thailand, Kultida was married to Tiger’s father, Earl Woods, for 37 years until his passing in 2006. While Tiger often credited his father for shaping his golf game, he described his mother as the “enforcer” growing up.
One of Kultida’s biggest influences on Tiger’s career was her insistence that he wear red on Sundays, believing the color would bring him strength and victory. Though he initially resisted, two junior golf losses in a blue shirt convinced him otherwise. Tiger once reflected, “[I] switched to red and I went on a hot streak. And, well, I kept it.”
