Kultida Woods, Mother of Tiger Woods, Dies at 80

Kultida Woods, whose guidance and support helped propel her son, the professional golfer Tiger Woods, to become one of his sport’s most dominant athletes, died on Tuesday. She was 80.

In announcing her death, Mr. Woods wrote on social media: “She was my biggest fan, greatest supporter, without her none of my personal achievements would have been possible.” The cause of death was not given.

Ms. Woods, who was born in Thailand, was a frequent presence at Mr. Woods’s tournaments. During his acceptance speech at the 2022 World Golf Hall of Fame induction ceremony, Mr. Woods credited his mother and his father, Earl Woods, with providing him an early start in the sport he came to dominate. (The elder Mr. Woods died in 2006.)

Tiger Woods said that when he was 6 years old his mother took him to a golf course in Long Beach, Calif., and asked employees there, “Can my son play here and practice a little bit?”

He recalled that when he was 8 years old, she would drop him off at the entryway to the golf course and give him 75 cents to buy a hot dog and use the pay phone to call when he was ready for her to pick him up.

In the speech, Mr. Woods said that when he was about 14 years old, his family had difficulties being able to afford allowing him to compete in tournaments. His voice broke as he recalled her sacrifices and how she took him to tournaments. Ms. Woods, in the audience, smiled up at him.

A full obituary will follow.