Since he went professional in 1996, Woods has had an incrediblecareerboth on and off the course.
But with his successes, Woods' career has also had its fair share of scandal and drama.
Luckily, he made a miraculous recovery and evenreturned to the Masters.
Throughout all the highs and lows, scandals and scares, one person hasn’t left Tiger’s side.
In that way, I’m more American than Thai."
Thai culture has also impacted how Kultida sees the world and the values that she’s taught her son.
For example, she taught Tiger to respect his elders.
Kultida explained that respect is important in Thailand, and it’s something she’s kept with her.
“I enjoy the things that are old more than the new,” she told ESPN.
“You know, the test of time.”
Kultida also appreciates Thailand’s openness to all people.
“Thais accept everybody, every religion, every custom.
Doesn’t matter if you are Buddhist or Catholic or Chinese,” she said.
“Whatever, we celebrate every damn holiday.
According toESPN, the two actually met in Bangkok, Thailand.
Although that allowed them to meet, they still may have seemed like an unlikely match on paper.
Kultida had never left Thailand and spoke minimal English.
After which, Kultida moved back to Brooklyn, New York, with her new husband.
They eventually moved to California, and in 1975 they had their first and only child, Tiger Woods.
A couple of years later, he started entering his first tournaments.
If the pay phone swallowed it, I had a backup.”
“This is an individual award, but it’s actually a team award.
All of you allowed me to get here.”
“My mom played golf when I was very little.
We played at Heartwell, we would go out there and play together,” Tiger shared, perGolf.com.
However, Tiger said she didn’t really play much other than putt golf.
“My mom was the enforcer.
“My mom’s still here, and I’m still deathly afraid of her.
She’s a very tough, tough old lady, very demanding.
“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.
So, the very next tournament what do I do?
So, I win.
Again, I told her, and I just kind of made fun of it.
Poked at her a little bit.
I think I lost the next two out of three tournaments wearing blue.
Switched to red and I went on a hot streak.
And, well, I kept it.”
“I always told him, ‘you might always count on Mom.
Mom will never lie to you.’
One of the ways he’s accomplished that is by helping his mother with the charities she works with.
Go ahead and take care of business.”
Using Tiger’s funding, they provided supplies, added staff, and expanded the schools’ facilities.
She toldESPN, “I am a loner, and so is Tiger.
We don’t waste time with people we don’t like.
I don’t have many close friends.
I am independent and strong-willed.
That way, you survive.”
She can see that same strong will and independence in her son.
And it’s easy to see how those traits helped him become the world-famous golfer he is today.
She also taught Tiger not to worry about the opinions of others.
Kultida recalled growing up that her mother used to worry about how people would think of her.
But, she was always confident and single-minded enough that she didn’t care what others thought.
“I always tell Tiger, ‘it’s possible for you to’t do things just to hey 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.”
Just the way he looked at me and shook my hand.
I hardly talk to him.
But I like him,” Kultida toldESPN.
“I was there getting exposed to possible collegiate scholarships.
College coaches were there to watch them play.”
His parents were faced with a tough decision regarding how they could best help their son move forward.
And eventually, Kultida and Earl Woods decided to put all their faith in Tiger’s potential.
“Mom stayed at home.
And I went out and played the AJGA Tour on our second mortgage.”
“That defined my career,” Tiger said.
A lot of that animosity didn’t actually come from Tiger himself but from his mother, Kultida Woods.
At the height of their grudge match, Kultida often made jabs at Mickelson.
Golf Magazine’s Alan Shipnuck revealed in an HBO documentary that the rivalry was “personal.”
for Kultida (via Insider).
Shipnuck added, “Tida loved to make fun of Mickelson’s body.”
The Los Angeles Times’ Thomas Bonk confirmed this in the same documentary.
However, Kultida wasn’t the only one with ill-will toward Mickelson.
Shipnuck said that Tiger felt “disdain” for Mickelson’s lack of drive.
“But Tiger looked at him with disdain.
He couldn’t fathom having that much ability but not putting in the time to be great.”
But, that wasn’t the first time that Tiger Woods got into a serious car accident.
In 2009 he was in a single-vehicle accident near his Florida home, theLos Angeles Timesreported.
He was admitted to the hospital after crashing his Cadillac Escalade SUV into a fire hydrant and a tree.
His injuries were not as severe in that first crash.
Because the crash happened near their home, she was at the scene in moments.
The pair split in 2010, shortly after his infidelities became known to his family and the public.
However, Tiger and Kultida have managed to rebuild and maintain a strong relationship.
“It’s been 22 years.
Life goes on,” he said of the parallel.
“But there’s been one continuity through it all my mom was there.”
He started by saying, “Every one of you has good reason to be critical of me.
