Golf great Tiger Woods revealed his mother, Kultida, died Tuesday morning. She was 78.
“It is with heartfelt sadness that I want to share that my dear mother, Kultida Woods, passed away early this morning,” Woods wrote in a post on X. “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, 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. Thank you all for your support, prayers and privacy at this difficult time for me and my family. Love you Mom.”
Her cause of death was not provided.
Woods’ social media tribute also included a photo of his mother, who recently attended her son’s TGL indoor golf league match in South Florida on Jan. 27. He’s due next to host next week’s Genesis Invitational, though it’s unclear whether he will attend.
During his acceptance speech for the 2024 Bob Jones Award — the USGA’s highest honor — Woods honored his mother as one of the key drivers behind his prolific golf career.
“My mom doesn’t get enough credit,” he said. “Everyone thought 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. She’s always been there through thick and thin.”
Originally from Thailand, Kultida — who also went by Tida — met Woods’ father, Earl Woods, in the 1960s during the Vietnam War, according to Golf Weekly. Earl, a soldier in the U.S. Army Special Forces, was deployed to the same base in Thailand where Kultida worked as a secretary. She returned to him with New York where they married before heading out to California.
They were married for 37 years until Earl died in May 2006.
