Kultida Woods, Mother of Tiger Woods, Is Dead

Kultida Woods, who played a pivotal role in her son Tiger Woods’ journey to becoming one of the most dominant athletes in golf, passed away on Tuesday.

In a social media post announcing her death, Tiger Woods expressed, “She was my biggest fan, greatest supporter, without her none of my personal achievements would have been possible.” The cause of her death and the location were not disclosed.

Ms. Woods was a constant presence in her son’s public life, attending his tournaments and standing by him through challenging times. Tiger Woods often spoke about the significant role his mother played in his career.

“I didn’t do this alone,” Tiger Woods mentioned during his acceptance speech of the Bob Jones Award in 2024. “I had the greatest rock that any child could possibly have: my mom.”

Born in Thailand, Ms. Woods met Tiger’s father during a military assignment overseas. Tiger credited his parents for introducing him to golf at an early age, which laid the foundation for his future success in the sport.

Reflecting on his childhood, Tiger recalled how his mother would drop him off at the golf course with 75 cents for a hot dog and a pay phone call to pick him up. He also shared the financial struggles his family faced to support his golf tournaments, highlighting his mother’s sacrifices.

In a heartfelt speech, Tiger acknowledged his mother’s tough love and unwavering support throughout his career. Despite facing prejudice, Ms. Woods taught her son to be proud of who he was and instilled Buddhist teachings in him.

During a challenging period in Tiger’s life, Ms. Woods remained a pillar of strength and guidance, earning the title of “matriarch, iron hand, and spiritual compass” for her son.

When publicly apologizing for his mistakes in 2010, Tiger acknowledged hurting his mother and straying from the values she had taught him. Despite the challenges, Ms. Woods expressed her pride in her son’s growth and ability to learn from missteps.