"'Golf Emperor' Tiger Woods' Mother Passes Away... 'My Biggest Fan and Supporter'"

Mother Kultida, Originally from Thailand, Passes Away at 80
Woods Announces on Social Media: "My Beloved Mother Has Passed Away"
Mother's Advice Led to Wearing a Red Shirt on Tournament Final Days

The "Golf Emperor" Tiger Woods (USA) has lost a steadfast pillar of support.

Tiger Woods' mother Kultida is watching her son's play with a bright smile at the 2018 Honda Classic. Photo by AP and Yonhap News

On the 4th (local time), he posted on the social networking service X (formerly Twitter), "I am deeply saddened to share the news that my beloved mother passed away early this morning." Woods' mother, Kultida, passed away at the age of 80. The specific cause of death has not been disclosed. Last week, Kultida watched her son's screen golf league TGL match at the Sofi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Woods' father, Earl, passed away in 2006.

Woods recalled, "My mother was an incredible person in every way, and her spirit was incredibly strong," adding, "She was very skilled with her hands and had a great sense of humor." He continued, "My mother was my biggest fan and supporter," and reflected, "Without her, none of my personal achievements would have been possible."

His mother Kultida was originally from Thailand and was a strong supporter of Woods. In March last year, during his acceptance speech for the Bob Jones Award?the highest honor given by the United States Golf Association (USGA) to a player who demonstrates outstanding sportsmanship?he expressed gratitude to his mother. He said, "People think my father was the center of my life when I was on tour, but in reality, my mother was the one who took care of everything at home," and added, "She was always with me throughout my life, through tough times and good times, always by my side."

Woods is famous for wearing a red top and black bottoms on the final day of tournaments. The red shirt has become his trademark. He explained, "My mother took me to youth tournaments and instilled toughness and a competitive spirit in me," and "It was also my mother who gave me the idea to use 'red' as a power color in competition."

Tiger Woods is smiling brightly with his mother Kultida right after winning the 1997 Western Open. Photo by AP and Yonhap News.

Kultida was present for Woods' historic winning moments. When Woods won his first major at the Masters in 1997, she watched his victory moment at the 18th hole. Especially in 2019, when he broke free from a long slump and won a major for the first time in 11 years at the Masters, she shared the joy with Woods beside the green, just like 22 years earlier.

Woods is truly a "living legend." He has won 82 tournaments in total, tying the record for the most wins, including 15 major championships. He achieved the "Tiger Slam," winning four consecutive majors: the 2000 US Open, The Open Championship, PGA Championship, and the 2001 Masters. At 24, he became the youngest player to complete the "Career Grand Slam."

However, since suffering a serious injury in a car accident in 2021, he has not been able to achieve good results. Last year, he struggled with back spasms and underwent his sixth back surgery to relieve pain. In December last year, he participated in the family team golf tournament, the PNC Championship, with his son Charlie. Recently, he played in the TGL tournament.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.