Kultida Woods is the mother of golf legend Tiger Woods. Since Tiger went professional in 1996, he has had an incredible career on and off the course. He’s had victories in all major tournaments, including five Masters Tournaments, four PGA Championships, three British Open Championships, and three U.S. Open Championships. Along with that, he’s now the Founder and CEO of TGR, a multi-brand enterprise.
But with his successes, Tiger’s career has also had its fair share of scandal and drama. In 2009, news broke of him cheating on his wife, which marred his professional reputation as well as personal. More recently, his 2021 car crash put him in the news again as supporters waited to see how he’d recover from his injuries.
Luckily, he made a miraculous recovery and even returned to the Masters. However, throughout the highs and lows, scandals and scares, the one person who hasn’t left Tiger’s side, watching him play, supporting him, and standing up for him when necessary, is his mother, Kultida Woods.
While fans of the renowned golf legend have likely seen his mother standing in the background with her iconic dark sunglasses, there’s a lot you may not know about her. Here’s what we know.
How Old Is Kultida Woods?
Kultida Woods is 77 years old. Although she’s lived in the United States for most of her life, she was born in Thailand. She was born Kultida “Tida” Punsawad on September 30, 1946, in Kanchanaburi, Thailand. According to reports, Tiger Woods’ mom was the youngest of four siblings, and she grew up as a Buddhist.
In addition, she is of Thai, Chinese, and Caucasian heritage, thanks to her parents. Also, she grew up in luxury, as her family owned a fleet of buses, and her dad had a tin mine. However, her early life became tough after her parents divorced when she was five. Consequently, Kultida was sent to boarding school until she was ten.
During her five years at boarding school, no relatives visited her. Afterward, she shuttled between her father and mother, who remarried and extended their families. Nonetheless, Kultida moved to the U.S. in 1968. She revealed in a 2009 interview, “I have lived in the U.S. for 40 years now, in Thailand for only 25. In that way, I’m more American than Thai.”
However, Thailand still holds an essential place in Kultida’s heart. The renowned golfer’s mom frequently visits her home country and even took her son on his first visit when he was nine.
What Does Kultida Woods Do?
According to reports, Kultida was a civilian working as a receptionist in the U.S. Army’s Bangkok office. Despite her rudimentary English, the celebrity mom worked as a civilian receptionist in the U.S. Army base in Bangkok.
Afterward, she moved to the U.S. and found work as a banker. She also participates in philanthropic events with The Tiger Woods Foundation. Through her initiatives in this foundation, which her son owns, she has been able to assist the least fortunate.
When Did Tiger Woods’ Parents Meet?
Kultida Woods and Earl Woods met at the U.S. Army base in Bangkok. Following his impressive career as a collegiate baseball player, Earl joined the U.S. Army. He rose through the ranks, eventually landing a position as a Green Beret. During his second tour during the Vietnam War, while stationed in Thailand, he struck up a romance with the office’s receptionist. Kultida.
However, Earl already had a family in America with Ann Hart, his wife since 1954, with whom he had three kids. Nonetheless, Kultida and Earl decided to go on a date. Their first date was a comedy of cultural misunderstandings.
The couple agreed to meet at eight, and Earl waited for Kultida late into the night, thinking she had stood him up. Interestingly, she asked him why he had missed their 8 a.m. appointment the next day. Only then did Earl learn that Thai women of her class did not go out at night.
Afterward, Kultida invited Earl to a holy day service at the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, their first date with a chaperone. After that, Earl obtained a divorce from his first wife in Mexico.
When Did Tiger Woods’ Parents Tie the Knot?
Kultida Woods, who had never traveled outside Thailand, followed Earl back to Brooklyn, New York. The couple married in 1969 after Earl obtained a divorce from his first wife, Ann, in Mexico. Following their wedding, Tiger Woods’ parents made their home in Brooklyn, New York, where she worked as a banker.
Who Are Kultida Woods’ Children?
Kultida Woods has one child. Kultida and Earl welcomed their only son, Eldrick Woods, on December 30, 1975. She wanted the child who would become world-famous with his nickname “Tiger,” always to feel like his parents surrounded him.
Hence, she gave him a unique name that began with his father’s initials, “E,” and ended with his mother’s, “K.” Unable to bear more children per the doctors, the former receptionist devoted her life to raising her son with the values of her homeland, never once hiring a babysitter.
Is Tiger Woods’ Mother Still Alive?
Yes, she is alive. Kultida Woods resides in Jupiter, Florida, USA. Unlike her famous son, Kultida Woods leads a quiet life and avoids the media. Unfortunately, her husband, Earl, died on May 3, 2006, from prostate cancer.
Another celebrity mom who rose to prominence, thanks to their famous child, is Cardi B’s mom, Clara Almánzar.
