Tiger Woods announced on Tuesday that his mother, Kultida Woods, has passed away. No cause of death was immediately disclosed.
“My mom was a force of nature all her own; her spirit was simply undeniable,” Woods shared in a statement on social media. “She was quick with the needle and a laugh, my biggest fan, my greatest supporter—without her, none of my personal achievements would have been possible.”
Just last week, Kultida attended Tiger’s TGL match in South Florida, where she was seen on the telecast. She had moved to the area after Tiger relocated from Orlando.
Though Earl Woods, Tiger’s late father, was well-known in golf circles, Tiger often credited his Thai-born mother as the driving force in his career. She was the disciplinarian, the enforcer, and the one who instilled in him his ruthless competitive edge. Tida and Earl Woods were married for 37 years until Earl’s passing in 2006 at age 74.
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
During his 2024 Bob Jones Award acceptance speech, Woods paid tribute to his mother, emphasizing her unwavering presence in his life. “Everyone thought it was my dad when I went on the road, and it was—but Mom was at home. She has been there my entire life, through thick and thin.”
It was Kultida who shuttled a young Tiger to all his junior tournaments, encouraged him to wear red as his power color, and stood behind the ropes at nearly every one of his professional triumphs. She was a constant presence during his most legendary moments, from his historic win at the 1997 Masters to his remarkable comeback victory at Augusta in 2019, where she stood behind the 18th green with her grandchildren, Sam and Charlie.
“She allowed me to get here,” Woods said in 2024. “She let me chase my dreams. I had the greatest rock any child could ask for: my mom. Thank you, Mommy.”
Woods, 49, is the tournament host for next week’s Genesis Invitational, now relocated from Riviera Country Club to Torrey Pines in San Diego. It remains uncertain whether he will compete.
“Thank you all for your support, prayers, and privacy during this difficult time for me and my family,” Woods expressed.
