At the age of 80, the mother of golf legend Tiger Woods passed away on Tuesday, February 4. The world star made the announcement in a statement via his social media channels. Born in Thailand, she was an important pillar for Woods and is also said to have been the origin of the legendary “Sunday-Red” shirt. Most recently, she attended the TGL match in her adopted home of South Florida last week.
Touching statement from Tiger Woods
“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,” Woods said in a social media statement. “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.”
Tida, as she was often called, is said to have been a major influence on Tiger’s career. She always demanded respect and sporting behavior from him. “ She’s a very tough, tough old lady, very demanding… I love her so much, but she was tough,” Tiger said about his mother in an interview with USA Today in 2017. She was also the driving force behind Tiger’s red shirts on finals days. “Mom thought being a Capricorn that my power color was red, so I wore red as a junior golfer and I won some tournaments,” Tiger Woods said at the launch last year of the Sun Day Red brand. “I go to a university that is red — Stanford is red. We wore red on the final day of every single tournament, and then every single tournament I’ve played as a professional I’ve worn red. It’s just become synonymous with me.”
Kultida met Earl Woods in the 1960s during the Vietnam War as a soldier in the US Army when they were both stationed in Thailand. Tida followed Earl to New York, where they married. They moved to California and in 1975 Eldrick Tont Woods, who would later make golf history as Tiger, was born. Her husband Earl died in May 2006.
TGL holds a minute’s silence for Tida
Tiger’s mother was also remembered at yesterday’s TGL event. Just a few hours after the news broke, fans and golf stars held a moment of silence for Tida at the SoFi Center. Afterwards, ESPN TGL presenter Matt Barrie addressed the audience: “Sad news today in the golf world as everyone here at TGL, TMRW Sports and ESPN is remembering Tida Woods, the mother of Tiger Woods, who died this morning at the age of 80. Tida was a towering figure in Tiger’s life, someone he described as ‘a force of nature all her own.’ Prior to the match tonight here at SoFi Center, we held a moment of silence honoring Tida Woods, who was so instrumental in Tiger’s life and his success. Throughout his amateur career as a young phenom in California and through his major championships and even here at TGL, the very league her son co-founded, she was here to support him. Last week, in fact, last Monday, Tida was ever present here at SoFi Center, cheering on Tiger, who got the win. Our thoughts and prayers with Tiger, Charlie and Sam and everyone for the loss of Tida Woods. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.”
Co-host Scott Van Pelt also had his say and shared a little insight into his encounter with Tida on the golf course. “Getting to know her was such a treat,” Van Pelt said. “We developed a little tradition through the years, on Sundays of majors. I’d see her, as her son teed off — she was in red, always, of course — and she’d ask me, ‘What do you think, Scott?’
“I’d say, ‘Well, Tida, I think your saw is going to do what you taught him to do.’ She’d always smile and say, ‘We’ll see.’ And then we did.”
