Tiger Woods' Mother Kultida Dies at 78, Leaving Behind Powerful Legacy
Kultida "Tida" Woods, mother of golf legend Tiger Woods, passed away Tuesday morning at age 78. Tiger announced her passing through social media, describing her as a "force of nature" and his "biggest fan and greatest supporter."
Born in Thailand in 1946, Tida met U.S. Special Forces soldier Earl Woods while working as a secretary on a military base during the Vietnam War. The couple settled in Cypress, California, where they had their only child, Eldrick "Tiger" Woods, in 1975.
Though Earl Woods received recognition for coaching Tiger's early golf career, Tida played an equally vital role in her son's development. She drove Tiger to junior golf events, walked the fairways with him, and was responsible for his signature "Sunday Red" attire, believing red to be his power color based on his Capricorn zodiac sign.
"My mom doesn't get enough credit," Tiger said at last year's Bob Jones award dinner. "Everyone thought that it was my dad when I went on the road, which it was, but Mom was there my entire life."
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In her later years, Tida remained a constant presence at Tiger's tournaments, often wearing matching red and black on Sundays. She last appeared publicly at Tiger's TGL match in Palm Beach, Florida, just a week before her passing.
"She was loved by so many, but especially by her two grandchildren, Sam and Charlie," Tiger shared in his statement. Kultida Punsawad Woods is survived by her son Tiger and grandchildren Samantha and Charlie.
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