Tiger Woods has announced the passing of his mother, Kultida, who died Tuesday morning at the age of 78.
“With heartfelt sadness, 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.”
Kultida met Tiger’s father, Earl Woods, in Thailand in 1966 while he was stationed there during the Vietnam War. Three years later, the couple tied the knot in Brooklyn.
Tiger Woods, now 49, once referred to his mother as “the enforcer” during a 2017 interview with USA Today.
Reflecting on his upbringing, Woods shared: “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,” he explained. “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.”
He emphasized just how strict she was, adding: “There was zero negotiation.”
Woods’ father passed away in 2006.
Kultida was present alongside Woods, his children, and his former girlfriend, Erica Herman, when his son was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Donald Trump in 2019.
She was also there to witness his induction into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2022.