Tiger Woods admits the loss of his mother Kultida has been a ‘tough process to go through’ after speaking out for the first time since announcing her death earlier this month.
The golf legend confirmed his mom had passed away in a heartbreaking statement on February 5, describing her as his biggest fan and greatest supporter’ while crediting her for his legendary achievements in the sport.
He has been keeping a low profile since her death at the age of 80, pulling out of the Genesis tournament he hosts this weekend in San Diego.
Yet after revealing earlier in the week that he was still considering showing his face in La Jolla, Woods kept his word when he joined Donald Trump’s granddaughter Kai at the PGA Tour event in California on Sunday.
He also gave his first television interview since Kultida’s death live on CBS Sports, opening up on the pain of losing his ‘rock’ and the support he has received over the past fortnight.
‘It’s been a tough process to go through,’ Woods said. ‘But I’ve had amazing family support, all the players have reached out that were playing here this week.
Tiger Woods admits the loss of his mother Kultida has been a ‘tough process to go through’
Woods backed out of competing in the Genesis Invitational to continue mourning his mother
‘The amount of texts and emails and nice messages of support I got has really helped and it really means a lot to me.
‘Mom was my rock. My dad worked at McDonnell Douglas at the time, working on the Delta rocket, and mom would take me to every junior event here in Southern California.’
The 49-year-old then added about his mom: ‘She was hard on me about school, about getting good grades and doing well in school. To be honest with you, if I didn’t get any homework done I wasn’t allowed to play. So it was important that I got good grades and school came first before any sport I was playing.
‘She meant everything to me, and losing her has been a very hard and difficult process to go through.’
Woods arrived at Torrey Pines South Course wearing his traditional Sunday red and dark sunglasses as he walked towards the clubhouse alongside the president’s granddaughter Kai.
Kai Trump, 17, has been at Torrey Pines for the entirety of the tournament, walking the course with Rory McIlroy for a practice round earlier in the week.
She was back on Sunday and strolled in alongside Woods, who looked somber as he surfaced for the first time this month.
The 15-time major winner was seen embracing close friends Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas on the range Sunday afternoon following the devastating news of his mom’s death earlier this month.
Woods was seen arriving at Torrey Pines alongside Kai Trump (left) on Sunday morning
It was the first time he has been seen publicly since the sad death of his mother Kultida
Woods was initially set to compete in this week’s Genesis Invitational – which is operated by his foundation and had to be moved from Riviera in Los Angeles to Torrey Pines in San Diego.
‘I planned to tee it up this week, but I’m just not ready,’ he said in a statement on X on Monday.
‘I did my best to prepare, knowing it’s what my Mom would have wanted, but I’m still processing her loss.’
Woods was extremely close to his mom, who saw him emerge to win the Masters as a 21-year-old in 1997, conquer the game in an era of relentless dominance before standing by him during his downfall from 2009’s sex scandal that cost him his first marriage and millions in endorsement deals.
She was present in the crowd in Florida when he played in the TGL against McIlroy on January 27.
