Kultida Woods, the mother of golf legend Tiger Woods, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 78. In a heartfelt post on social media, Tiger Woods announced the loss of his beloved mother but did not provide further details regarding the cause of her passing. Just last week, she was present supporting him at his match for the TMRW Golf League in South Florida, where she had been residing.

Tiger Woods fondly remembered his mother as a “force of nature” and highlighted her unwavering support throughout his journey in golf, from driving him to junior competitions in California to standing by him during his 15 major championship victories, often dressed in her signature wide-brimmed visor and sunglasses. “It is with heartfelt sadness that I want to share that my dear mother, Kultida Woods, passed away early this morning,” he wrote. “My mom was a force of nature all her own, her spirit was simply undeniable. 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. She was loved by so many, especially by her two grandchildren, Sam and Charlie.”

Tributes have poured in, including one from former President Donald Trump, who praised her as “an amazing influence” on Woods. Kultida Woods had been a central figure in her son’s life ever since she and Earl Woods first met in Bangkok, where she was working as a civilian secretary for the U.S. Army. Upon marrying Earl in 1968, she moved to the United States, initially settling in Brooklyn before eventually moving to Cypress, California, where Tiger was born in 1975. While his father introduced him to the game of golf, it was his mother’s discipline that shaped his character.

Woods recalled how pivotal she was in his life during a speech last year while receiving the Bob Jones Award from the USGA. “Everyone thought it was my dad when I went on the road, which it was,” he reflected, “but Mom was at home. If you don’t know, Mom has been there my entire life. She’s always been there through thick and thin. She has allowed me to get here. She has allowed me to chase my dreams; the support and love — I didn’t do this alone. I had the greatest rock that any child could possibly have: my mom.”

Kultida Woods sought to instill her Thai heritage in her children. She first took Tiger to Thailand when he was just nine and encouraged him to return as a professional golfer, where he enjoyed great success in each tournament played there. Their bond was characterized by a shared fighting spirit. In a rare public interview in Thailand in 2009, she reflected on their connection, saying, “I always tell Tiger: ‘You can’t do things just to please other people. It will waste your energy, and you won’t be happy in yourself. You have to do what is right for yourself.’ And on that, he does a good job.”

Deeply invested in her son’s athletic career, Kultida Woods also had a hand in his iconic Sunday attire. She encouraged him to wear red, a color that represented strength in Thai culture. “Mom thought being a Capricorn that my power color was red, so I wore red as a junior golfer and I won some tournaments,” he explained at the launch of his apparel line, Sun Day Red, last year. She would also gift him a new driver head cover each year, with the message “Love from Mom” stitched in Thai.

After moving from their childhood home to a more modern house in Orange County, Kultida continued to follow her son to his golfing events, making it a priority to attend the Masters every year. She celebrated alongside him when he won his fifth green jacket and 15th major title in 2019. From the very beginning, she played a crucial role in his sporting journey, whether dropping him off at tournaments with a dollar or providing tough love at home. In a candid 2017 interview, Tiger admitted that his mother’s discipline was something he always respected. “My mom’s still here and I’m still deathly afraid of her,” he stated. “She’s a very tough, tough old lady, very demanding… I love her so much, but she was tough.”

This story has been updated to correct that Kultida Woods was 78 years old at the time of her passing.