Tiger Woods pays touching tribute to mom as accepts prestigious award

Tiger Woods was presented with a prestigious award by the USGA on Tuesday night ahead of the US Open.  

The Bob Jones Award is the highest honor from the USGA that recognizes commitment to sportsmanship and respect for golf’s traditions.

The 15-time major winner was surrounded by family as he accepted the prestigious at Pinehurst, North Carolina, ahead of this week’s US Open. 

The 48-year-old was joined by his mother Kultida, 80, daughter Sam, 16, and son Charlie, 15.  

‘Charlie just said to not let my head get too big,’ Woods quipped at the beginning of his speech after a video filled with some of the game’s most famous faces and big names praising him had played. 

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‘It is a very humbling and special night,’ he continued. ‘One that I don’t take lightly because of the former recipients of this award. These are people that I had idolized either through literature or in person or in video or even got to play and compete with. 

‘Bobby Jones is the greatest amateur that ever lived and what he meant to the game and what he designed the game to be and to be represented – all the attributes that he try to aspire to in this great game of golf – this is what Bobby Jones alluded.’

Woods went on to pay an incredibly moving tribute to his mom, who sat alongside his two children in the audience. He thanked her for her support in helping his achieve his dreams. 

‘There’s no other time that I felt so much pressure to win the event than the last US Amateur that I was ever going to play in,’ he recalled of the 199 tournament. 

‘The reason is mom never came to any of my juniors. Mom never came to any of my amateurs. [But] She was wearing a Stanford sweatshirt there at Pumpkin Ridge, she was there for the first time. Now, imagine if I lost the damn thing. But when I made that winning putt who was the first person I hugged? Right mommy, it was you.’

The camera panned to Tida has she emotionally looked up at her son on the podium with pride. 

‘My mom doesn’t get enough credit,’ Woods added. ‘Everyone always though it was me and dad on the road, which it was, but mom was at home. Mom has been there my entire life, she’s been there through thick and thin. 

‘This award I accept in humbleness and unbelievable regard for the past recipients but I also accept it from my mommy too. She allowed me to get here, to chase my dreams. I didn’t do this alone, I had the greatest rock any child could possibly have – my mom. Thank you, mommy.’ 

Woods pulled his mother and daughter Sam into a tight embrace after exiting the stage, while son Charlie stood applauding his father. 

Tida was married to Woods’ father Earl for 37 years until his death in May 2006 at their home in Cypress.

Woods is used to being honored for his performances on the course, where he has won 15 majors among his 82 career victories on the PGA Tour.

The 48-year-old Woods was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2022, and he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Donald Trump in 2019.

Woods is a nine-time USGA champion, winning three straight US Junior Amateurs, followed by three straight US Amateurs, and then the US Open at Pebble Beach (2000), Bethpage Black (2002) and Torrey Pines (2008).

Jones won the Grand Slam in 1930 when it was comprised of the US Open, US Amateur, British Open and British Amateur. He later co-founded Augusta National Golf Club and created the Masters.

Off the golf course, Woods launched what now is called the TGR Foundation that emphasizes educational opportunities, along with STEM-based learning at the TGR Learning Lab in California. He also has started a golf course design firm. One of his courses in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, hosted a PGA Tour event last fall.

Previous winners include Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus, Mickey Wright and Ben Hogan, and former President George H.W. Bush.

Woods is set to compete in this week’s third major of the year at Pinehurst in North Carolina, and he hasn’t just been joined by his family off the course but also on it.

Charlie himself tried to qualify for the event, falling short in a qualifier in April, but he joined his famous father – and in matching colors too – in a practice round with Max Homa and Min Woo Lee ahead of Thursday’s start.

Speaking about Charlie’s presence at the course, Woods told the media: ‘I think having Charlie out here is very special. To have the father-son relationship that we have and to extend it into this part of both of our lives, he’s playing a lot of junior golf, and I’m still playing out here.

‘It’s neat for him to see the guys that he watches on TV and YouTube and TikTok , whatever the hell it is that they do. At home he’s with JT [Justin Thomas] and Rick [ Rickie Fowler ] a lot. But to see other guys hit the golf ball, it doesn’t really do it justice until you actually see it in person.

‘He was very excited today to watch Max [Homa] and Min Woo [Lee] and watch them hit golf balls. They’ve talked to him quite a bit, especially Min Woo and him. I think they’re closer in age than I am to anybody else. It’s great. It’s great for us to be able to share these moments together.

‘As far as his responsibilities, it’s the same. I trust him with my swing and my game. He’s seen it more than anybody else in the world. He’s seen me hit more golf balls than anyone.

‘I tell him what to look for, especially with putting. He gave me a couple little side bits today, which was great, because I get so entrenched in hitting certain putts to certain pins, I tend to forget some of the things I’m working on.

‘I just want to see the balls rolling. He reminds me every now and again, which is great. We have a great relationship and rapport like that, and it’s a wonderful experience for both of us.’

Woods has played little competitive golf outside the majors so far in 2024, only appearing in one other event – the Genesis Invitational in February, which resulted in a withdrawal on day two.

He made the cut at the Masters in April, before finishing seven-over-par and missing out on the weekend at Valhalla in the PGA Championship .