Every athlete needs someone to lean on during tough times, and for golf legend Tiger Woods, that someone was his mom, Kultida Woods. She was the driving force behind his success, pushing him to be his best and teaching him the discipline and work ethic that made him a golfing superstar. From a young age, Kultida was instrumental in nurturing Woods’s talent and her influence played a huge role in shaping him into the champion he became. Born in Thailand, Kultida met her future husband Earl Woods while working as a receptionist in the U.S. Army’s Bangkok office.

She followed Earl back to the United States, where they married in 1969 and started a family. Kultida’s impact on Woods’s life and career is impossible to overstate. She kept him grounded, even when he was on top of the world. Woods has often said that his mom was the one person he feared more than anyone else, including his dad. “My dad may have been in the Special Forces, but I was never afraid of him. My mom’s still here and I’m still deathly afraid of her,” Woods said in a 2017 interview.

Kultida’s solid support for her son has been a constant presence throughout his career. She’s often seen cheering him on at golf tournaments, sporting her signature oversized black glasses and visor. Even when Woods faced tough times, Kultida remained a constant source of support and guidance. As Woods himself said, “I had the greatest rock that any child could possibly have: my mom.” Sadly, Kultida passed on February 4, 2025, but she has left some unforgettable memories with her son that no golf fan can look past.

But her impact was not limited to his career only as she was also the inspiration behind Woods’s world-famous brand.

Kultida Woods’s impact on Tiger Woods’s brand

Tiger Woods’s iconic red attire on Sundays is more than just a fashion statement it’s a tribute to his mother, Kultida Woods. According to Woods, his mother told him that red was his “power color” after he won a junior golf tournament wearing it. As Woods himself recalled, “My mom says that my power color is red. And so, in junior golf I won a golf tournament wearing red. She said, ‘See I told you. Red.'” This superstition has stuck with him throughout his career, and it’s a sweet nod to the influence his mother has had on his life. And the red his mother loved so much is known by millions today in his brand, Sun Day Red, a golf and lifestyle apparel brand created by Tiger Woods and TaylorMade Golf.

Kultida Woods’s impact on her son’s life extends far beyond his fashion choices. She also introduced him to Buddhism, which has been a guiding force in his life. As Kultida Woods once explained, “When he realized, he said okay, and went back to practice Buddhism and that will make him a much better person.” Woods’s own words also reflect the importance of his mother’s teachings, guidance, and support which have played a very important role in shaping him into the person he is today.

Kultida Woods is behind Tiger Woods’s down-to-earth nature

You’ve got to admire Tiger Woods’s humility, especially considering his incredible success on the golf course. But have you ever wondered where he gets that down-to-earth nature from? Well, it’s all thanks to his mom, Kultida Woods. She was the one who kept him grounded, even when he was winning tournament after tournament as a junior golfer. Kultida made sure Woods didn’t let his victories go to his head, teaching him to stay focused and hungry for more success. And it’s clear that her lessons stuck – just ask Hughes Norton, the IMG agent who met with Woods’s parents back in 1989.

Norton’s story is a great example of Kultida’s influence on Woods’s personality. When he arrived at the Woods’s home, he was struck by the young golfer’s humility and focus on his craft. Woods’s room was filled with posters of golf legends like Jack Nicklaus, but there wasn’t a single trophy or accolade from his numerous junior golf victories. When Norton asked Woods about the missing trophies, he casually replied, “Mom made me get rid of them.” Woods’s calm demeanor and lack of attachment to his past successes spoke volumes about his mom’s influence. As he said, “It’s fine. I don’t care. I’ll just win some more.” That’s the kind of upbringing he has had and it’s all thanks to Kultida’s guidance and influence. What do you think about the influence Woods’s late mother has had in his career? Let us know in the comment section below!