Tiger Woods Pays Tribute to His Mother, Kultida
Tiger Woods is mourning the loss of his beloved mother, Kultida Woods, who passed away early on February 4. The 49-year-old golf legend shared the heartbreaking news via Instagram, expressing his deep sorrow and gratitude for his mother's unwavering support throughout his life.
"It is with heartfelt sadness that I want to share that my dear mother, Kultida Woods, passed away early this morning," Tiger wrote. "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."
Woods, who shares two children—Sam, 17, and Charlie, 15—with his ex-wife, Elin Nordegren, added that Kultida was deeply loved by her grandchildren and thanked his supporters for their prayers and privacy during this difficult time.
A Life of Strength and Resilience
Kultida Woods was married to Tiger’s father, Earl Woods, for 37 years until his passing in 2006. Throughout Tiger’s career, Kultida remained a steadfast presence, offering both encouragement and discipline. In his 2017 book The 1997 Masters: My Story, Tiger described his mother as "strong and feisty."
"As we said in our family, my mom was the hand, and my dad was the voice," Tiger wrote. "I could negotiate with him, but not with my mom. There was no middle ground with Mom."
During a 2017 interview with USA Today, Woods reflected on his mother's role in shaping his discipline and resilience. "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."
Tributes from the Sports World
Following the announcement of Kultida’s passing, an outpouring of support flooded Tiger Woods’ social media. Friends and colleagues from the sports world, including NFL legend Tom Brady, who commented with three red-heart emojis, and sports broadcaster Erin Andrews, who wrote, “So sorry ❤️❤️,” expressed their condolences.
Professional golfers such as Moo Win Lee and other athletes, including former MLB star Dexter Fowler and former NHL player Chris Pronger, also shared messages of sympathy and support.
A Legacy of Love and Discipline
Tiger Woods’ achievements in golf are well-documented, but those close to him know that his drive and determination were greatly influenced by his mother’s unwavering discipline and love.
Her legacy lives on through the values she instilled in her son and the cherished memories shared by her family and friends.
As Tiger and his family mourn the loss of Kultida Woods, the sports world stands with them, honoring the life of a woman whose strength and guidance helped shape one of the greatest athletes of all time.
