Augusta National, 1995. A practice round changed everything. Woods was still an amateur when Fred Couples invited him to play.

“He was my mentor,” Tiger Woods would later recall. That single round sparked a lifelong bond. “So, I got a chance to play with Freddy in the ’95 Masters. In my first practice round, he invited me to play and it’s only built from there.” Soon, Couples emerged as his “dad on tour,” becoming a father figure “in a roundabout way.”

Woods lost his father, Earl in 2006, so having a father-like figure on the Tour helped. The golf world fell silent on February 4, 2025, when Tiger Woods shared the heartbreaking news of his mother’s passing. “It is with heartfelt sadness that I want to share that my dear mother, Kultida Woods, passed away early this morning,” Woods wrote on social media. His words, raw with emotion, touched hearts across the sporting world: “She was quick with the needle and a laugh. She was my biggest fan, greatest supporter, without her none of my personal achievements would have been possible.”

Kultida was pure steel wrapped in silk. She didn’t just walk the fairways; she owned them. Indeed, her signature wide-brimmed visor and sunglasses became symbols of unwavering support for her son at tournaments worldwide. No one could match her mix of grace and grit, especially when it came to raising a son who would forever change the face of golf. “Mom was at home, always there through thick and thin,” Woods would often remind everyone. Above all, she gifted golf its most iconic tradition—the 15x major winner’s Sunday red, rooted in her Thai beliefs about power colors.

As the news spread, tributes poured in from sports legends and dignitaries alike. Then came Fred Couples’s. “What an amazing and tough and strong woman Kultida Woods was. She lit up the room with her smile and she would always give you the business when you deserved it. I’ll miss her. Thinking of @tigerwoods and his family.” wrote the veteran. His words carried special weight, stemming from decades of friendship with the Woods family.

Woods’s and Couples’s connection deepened through the years, with Woods tying his record of 23 consecutive cuts at Augusta. Even last year, Woods was glued to the screen watching Couples claim his 14th career title at the SAS Championship.

Tributes poured in from across the golf world, each highlighting a different facet of Kultida’s remarkable presence in the sport.

Heartfelt tributes pour in for Tiger Woods’s loving mother

President Donald Trump praised her as “an amazing influence” who gave Tiger “strength and brilliance.” The PGA Tour captured her foundational role, remembering her as “the bedrock of Tiger’s unparalleled career.”

Commissioner Jay Monahan spoke for the entire golf community: “Those of us who have been lucky enough to have a firsthand view of Tiger Woods’ career know how much both his greatness and his humanity have stemmed from the love and support of his mother.” Tom Brady shared his grief through heartfelt messages, while fans worldwide echoed a common sentiment: “You and Earl gave us the man that revolutionized golf.”

Her final public appearance came just days before her passing at Woods’s TGL match, a testament to her unwavering support until the very end. The golfer also waved at his mum, and with a big smile yelled, “Not gonna s–k tonight mom.” Through 15 major championships, countless tournaments, and decades of evolution in golf, she remained a constant figure, watching from behind her signature wide-brimmed visor and sunglasses.

Golf has lost a remarkable soul, but Kultida Woods’s spirit will forever live in the game she helped shape.