Tiger Woods announced the passing of his mother, Kultida Woods, at the age of 78 in an emotional social media post. The 15 time major champion described her as a “force of nature” and his “biggest fan”.
Tiger in his emotional post wrote, "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."
He added," 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."
According to Fox News, Kultida, originally from Thailand, met Tiger’s father, Earl Woods, in the late 1960s while he was stationed in Bangkok with the US military. The couple married in 1969 and later relocated to Brooklyn, New York, before settling in Cypress, California, where Tiger born Eldrick Woods became their only child.
Eldrick was named after his parents, with E standing for Earl and K for Kultida. The champion golfer was nicknamed Tiger after his father's lost comrade in Vietnam, Tiger Phong. Earl died in 2006 at the age of 74.
When Kutilda supported Tiger in his darkest phase
Kultida stood by her son when the golf star faced one of his darkest moments. In 2010, he held a globally viewed press conference and confessed that he was engaged in multiple extramarital affairs. His mother sat in the front row of the public confession with Tiger admitting that his actions were not acceptable and he had “stopped living by the core values” his parents taught him.
Tiger Woods said on The Tonight Show last year that his mother was the key to him wearing the now-iconic red and black outfit combination that he wore on the final day of golf tournaments.