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Tiger Woods is one of the most iconic names in golf history, but many fans were recently shocked to discover that “Tiger” is not his actual first name.

Despite his widespread fame, Woods’ real name has remained a mystery to many, leading to a wave of reactions across social media.

At 49 years old, Woods has built a legacy that few can match, winning 15 major championships since turning professional in 1996. His dominance on the course is legendary, but now, it’s his name that’s making headlines for an entirely different reason.

Tiger Woods

READ: Tiger Woods rides emotions as daughter Sam advances to Florida soccer state championship

When fans discovered that Tiger Woods’ birth name is actually Eldrick Tont Woods, disbelief quickly spread across X (formerly known as Twitter). Many were taken aback by the revelation, with some struggling to process the news.

One user posted, “Just found out Tiger Woods’ first name isn’t Tiger, I’m about to throw up.” Another fan echoed the sentiment, writing, “I was today years old when I realized that Tiger Woods’ real name isn’t Tiger Woods.”

The name “Tiger” has been so deeply associated with Woods’ legendary career that most people assumed it was his given name.

However, the nickname has an interesting origin-his father, Earl Woods, named him after a close friend, South Vietnamese Colonel Vuong Dang Phong, whom Earl met during his service in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War.

The nickname was meant as a tribute, and it stuck with Woods throughout his life and career, to the point where many never questioned its authenticity.

While the internet buzzed over Woods’ real name, the golf champion was facing a far more personal and heartbreaking reality. Earlier this month, his mother, Kultida Woods, passed away at the age of 80.

She was a pillar of support throughout his life, witnessing both his triumphs and struggles, including his first Masters victory at 21 in 1997 and the challenges following his 2009 personal scandal.

Woods released a heartfelt statement about her passing: “It is with heartfelt sadness that I want to share that my dear mother, Kultida Woods, passed away early this morning.

“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.”

He also acknowledged her deep bond with his children, Sam and Charlie, and expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support from fans and well-wishers during this difficult time.

Legendary golfer Tiger Woods rode the highs and lows of Benjamin’s dramatic rally in the Class 2A state semifinals just like every soccer parent in DeLand on Thursday evening.

In the end, Woods’ daughter, Sam, saw her high school soccer career extended with a 2-1 Benjamin victory over Lakeland Christian at Spec Martin Stadium.

Woods, a senior defender, led the Bucs’ back line, which conceded a goal in the first half but shut out Lakeland Christian over the second half of regulation and two extra time periods before Sienna Barboni’s electric match-winner.

With dad Tiger in stands, Sam Woods makes Florida state title game

READ: Rory McIlroy Reveals Wife Erica Wants to ‘Spend More Time’ in England After Reconciling Marriage

Benjamin will face the winner of Ransom Everglades (14-4-3) and Episcopal School of Jacksonville (13-5-3) in the state final on Saturday at 7 p.m.

Tiger Woods' daughter, Sam, has 'negative connotation' of golf, but excels  in soccer, track - Yahoo Sports

Woods has three goals and an assist this year for Benjamin (10-5-3) playing in a largely defensive role. She scored the game-winner on a header for the Bucs against King’s Academy in the district championship match.

After the completion of Benjamin’s soccer season, Woods will move into the spring track and field season, where she competes in hurdles and middle distance events with Benjamin.

Tiger Woods made his return to competition on Tuesday, two weeks after the death of his mother, as Jupiter Links Golf Club lost 10-3 to New York Golf Club in the TGL.

The 15-time major winner, who founded the part-virtual league alongside Rory McIlroy, walked out alongside 16-year-old son Charlie before the event at SoFi Center, where Kultida Woods last watched her son play on January 27.

Woods withdrew from the Genesis Invitational last week, telling ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt ahead of Tuesday’s TGL event that he was still working through his emotions.

Tiger Woods makes TGL history by breaking strict rule

READ: No Longer on Good Terms, Phil Mickelson Admits He Owes Tiger Woods Big Time During LIV Golf Event

“It’s a process,” he said. “This was the last time she ever watched me play, so it was a bit emotional coming in here tonight.

“(Teammates) Kis (Kevin Kisner) and TK (Tom Kim), they gave me huge hugs.”

Woods also reflected on his mother’s support for his career in golf: “She was a hard lady. Very disciplined, very hard. She was very direct about her feelings, her emotions – she’d let you know either way.

“But she was always so supportive of me going out there and playing. It was incredible.”

Jupiter struggled on Tuesday, with New York picking up three points on the first three holes – more than the team had managed across its first two matches combined.

From then onwards, Rickie Fowler, Matt Fitzpatrick and Cameron Young never looked back, stretching New York’s lead to 8-0 after eight holes as the likes of New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso and Yankees legend CC Sabathia watched on from the stands.

The 9th and 10th holes saw Jupiter pull back three points, but a mix-up for Woods on hole 13 summed up the team’s game.

After a tee shot left Woods 199 yards from the hole, caddie Rob McNamara told him “99,” dropping the first number as is often the case when caddies feel the yardage is obvious.

Woods then proceeded to choose a wedge and hit his next shot 99 yards – 100 shy of the target – prompting Kisner and Kim to drop to the floor in fits of laughter.

“I heard 99 yards, and so I went out there and hit it 100 yards,” smiled Woods afterwards. “One of the most embarrassing moments in my golfing career just happened!”

It is not likely to get any easier for Jupiter in its next event, with the team set to face The Bay Golf Club, which is unbeaten and leads the league, on February 25.

New York is next in action against Los Angeles on February 24.

For Kultida Woods, Phil Mickelson was more deserving of the nickname “hefty” and not “lefty”. 

As the two top golfing stars in their time, both Mickelson and Tiger Woods exuded a fierce rivalry finely balanced on ego, competition, and “disdain”—the last word being more of how Woods felt toward his fierce rival.

Son of a Vietnamese veteran father and a Thai mother, the three-time US Open Winner was aware (and perhaps angry and jealous?) that Mickelson was more naturally talented than he was. As golf writer Alan Shipnuck noted, “Tiger knew that Phil was the most naturally gifted player ever to hold a golf club. But Tiger looked at him with disdain. He couldn’t fathom having that much ability but not putting in the time to be great.” Now add to that the “20 extra pounds” that the six-time US Open runner weighed as opposed to Tiger’s strict dietary regime, and it explains why Kultida might have been irked. Also, it didn’t help that they got off on the wrong foot, thanks to a dig Mickelson found immensely funny at the time…

Inside Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson's epic, love-hate rivalry

READ: What is Tiger Woods’political affiliation? What we know about ties to Donald Trump

Back in 1998, the two golfers (both in their 20s) had bet $500 dollars while playing a practice round ahead of the Nissan Open at the Valencia Country Club in California. While Woods ultimately lost, his opponent celebrated by placing photocopies of his winning $100 bills in Mr. T’s locker, with a note that read, “Just wanted you to know Benji and his friends are very happy in their new home.” Well, safe to say, Woods didn’t take it lightly. The result?

The duo didn’t play another practice round together for a staggering 20 years, until the 2018 Masters. While Mickelson was a true “senior” as they call it, having joined the sports five years prior, and racked up nine PGA Tour wins by the time Woods joined in 1996, it didn’t take much time for the latter to catch up. As things stand, the 49-year-old has 82 PGA Tour wins (tied-1st all-time), and 110 as a professional. Mickelson, on the other hand, stands at 45 PGA Tour wins (tied-8th all-time), and 57 tournament victories as a professional. We clearly see a winner, don’t we?

Perhaps that’s the reason why the conflict has since dampened if not completely gone, as more apparent by Woods’ words. “That’s just part of the deal. I have enjoyed competing and playing against him. We’ve been doing it for 20-plus years. But I’ve really enjoyed it. And I think that there will certainly be some time talking involved and some snide comments and trying to get in one of his head. But the end of the day, he understands who has more wins,” he said during an Inside the NBA appearance in November, 2018.

Mickelson, too, long recognized Woods’s influence on the game, and in a recent open discussion, he finally acknowledged the true debt he owes to his greatest rival.

In a recent interview on the Australian Golf Digest YouTube channel, the veteran discussed his career, the evolution of golf fitness, and how Tiger Woods was the inspiration behind it. Talking about Mickelson’s fitness regime, the host asked, You’ve never looked better, and I mean that. Do you have regrets, maybe not getting into this a lot earlier in your career? Have you ever pondered, ‘Maybe could I have won even more’, back at your prime?”

To this, the golf star disclosed in a moment of shocking candor that when he first began playing professional golf, health was not even taken into account. He remarked, “I do wish I had dove in and learned more about nutrition. When I started playing golf though fitness wasn’t even an issue.” “It wasn’t until Tiger came along— he was years behind me—that it really got to be accepted and then got to grow,” he further added.

Mickelson attributed the sport’s change to Woods’s dedication to fitness. He admitted that Dave Phillips and Greg Rose co-founded the Titleist Performance Institute (TPI) as a result of the growing popularity of fitness training in golf. Since then, TPI has grown to be an essential component of professional golfers’ training plans, emphasizing injury prevention and routines tailored to the sport. Mickelson further explained, [With] the formation of TPI with Dave Phillips and Greg Rose…we really started to train for golf specific as well as injury prevention. When I started working out with my trainer in 2003, 21 years ago, we went into it with the idea of elongating my career rather than trying to perform great for a short period of time.”  

At the age of 54, Mickelson has remained injury-free, which is uncommon in professional sports. He acknowledged that he could have done more in terms of diet, but he was grateful that he had made the proper choices in terms of his physical conditioning. “I wish I had dived in a little bit more on nutrition—I didn’t. I don’t think it would have led to my winning more or anything, but it sure would have been nice to be accountable for my health at a younger age,” he remarked.

Even though Mickelson praised Woods’s impact on golf’s health culture, he and Woods are no longer on good terms. Despite Woods’s continued support for the PGA Tour, the distance between the two has grown as a result of LIV Golf’s ascent and Mickelson’s contribution to its creation. However, Mickelson’s candid remarks highlight the undeniable impact Woods had not only on his career but on the sport as a whole.

Nonetheless, Mickelson’s open comments demonstrate the indisputable influence Woods had on the sport overall as well as on his career. Even though Mickelson admits that Woods influenced his career, his legacy is defined by his brilliant moments, such as the BellSouth Classic in 2005.

One of the most thrilling events in Phil Mickelson’s remarkable career was the BellSouth Classic in 2005. The 54-hole competition was cut short due to weather-related issues at the TPC at Sugarloaf in Duluth, Georgia. At 8-under 208, Mickelson was tied with prominent players like Arjun Atwal, Rich Beem, Brandt Jobe, and José María Olazábal.

The playoffs that followed were a test of skill and nerve. Olazábal and Jobe both missed a good chance of hitting birdies to win the championship on the opening playoff hole. One by one, competitors were progressively eliminated as the playoffs went on, enabling Mickelson and Beem to square off. When Beem’s approach failed on the fourth extra hole, Mickelson took advantage of the situation. In the end, his second shot was accurate, falling 15 feet from the pin, allowing him to make a birdie putt with confidence to seal the win.

“I felt like I kind of gave the tournament away,” Mickelson remarked in the aftermath, sounding relieved. “But I was able to somehow hang in there and get lucky.” This triumph demonstrated Mickelson’s tenacity and capacity to perform well under duress in addition to adding another title to his resume.

The 2005 BellSouth Classic is still considered to be one of the most thrilling playoffs in modern golf. It demonstrated the exhilarating, unpredictable nature of golf, where resilience and poise can produce successful results even in the face of overwhelming odds. When taken as a whole, these stories highlight the dynamic and ever-changing path of such legendary golfers.

On Thursday, golf legend Tiger Woods appeared with Donald Trump during a White House ceremony as part of a Black History Month celebration.

Woods had joined Trump, as well as PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan and player director Adam Scott, at the White House, in what was believed to be related to the ongoing divide caused by Saudi Arabian-backed LIV Golf. But Trump and Woods have a longstanding relationship, well beyond their appearance. So what is Woods’ political affiliation?

Woods’ relationship with Trump has drawn public attention for several years. Woods’ appearance at the White House reignited discussions about his political views, especially given Trump’s continued influence in both political and golfing circles, including his ties to LIV Golf. According to The New York Times, Trump has been working “to repair the divide between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf.”

Woods and Trump

READ: Charlie Woods’s Rival Adds to Pressure With Latest Win as Tiger’s Son Eyes Comeback After Family Tragedy

Since LIV Golf debuted in June 2022, it has nabbed some of the PGA Tour’s top players. The PGA Tour, PIF, and DP World Tour reached an agreement in June 2023, but it later expired because of Justice Department antitrust concerns. The PGA Tour secured a $1.5 billion investment from Strategic Sports Group, a consortium led by Fenway Sports, in early 2024, in an effort to stabilize its future.

Tiger Woods’ Political Views: What We Know

Lifelong champion Woods has mostly remained neutral on national and international politics.

Though the full scope of his political views remains unclear, Woods has maintained a positive relationship with Trump for over two decades.

Back in August 2018, after Woods was pressed about his friendship with Trump and his policies, ESPN reported that he said: “You have to respect the office. No matter who is in the office, you may like, dislike personality or the politics, but we all must respect the office.”

When a reporter asked Woods if he could expand on the state of race relations in the country, he deflected.

To that, Trump responded on X, formerly Twitter, and said: “The Fake News Media worked hard to get Tiger Woods to say something that he didn’t want to say. Tiger wouldn’t play the game – he is very smart. More importantly, he is playing great golf again!”

While some view Woods’ approach as apolitical, others interpret Woods’ relationship with Trump as indicative of certain political leanings. However, Woods has never publicly endorsed a political candidate and continues to focus primarily on his golf career and philanthropy.

Donald Trump and Tiger Woods: Relationship Timeline

Woods and Trump have shared a passion for golf. According to The New York Times, Woods has played multiple rounds of golf with Trump, both before and during Trump’s first presidency.

Further, Woods’ son Charlie is expected to play golf in the 2025 Junior Invitational in South Carolina next month. Trump’s granddaughter, Kai is also playing in the women’s field at the same event.

The Woods-Trump friendship began in the early 2000s when Woods participated in events at Trump-owned golf courses. During Trump’s presidency, they were frequently seen golfing together at Trump International Golf Club in Florida.

Trump has praised Woods’ accomplishments, particularly during a May 2019 ceremony when Woods first received the Presidential Medal of Freedom following his Masters Tournament victory.

Trump has also publicly admired Woods’ ability to overcome challenges, including injuries and his high-profile car accident. Back in February 2021, Woods was involved in a single-car accident in California. His vehicle veered off the road and rolled over, causing injuries to his legs. Woods underwent multiple surgeries afterward and it temporarily halted his golf career.

During this time, Trump sent the golfer well wishes. Fox News reported that Trump said he has “overcome a lot, but he’s had an incredible life and he’s going to continue to have an incredible life. But now he’ll recover from this – it’s pretty bad on the legs, I understand. He’ll figure a way, but he’s a wonderful person.”

At the White House on Thursday, Woods delivered brief remarks at the event after the crowd chanted his name to encourage him to speak.

“It’s an honor to be here with you, Mr. President, and to be here with all of you,” he said, gesturing to the crowd. “Thank you so much.”

What is Tiger Woods’ background?

Tiger Woods, born Eldrick Tont Woods in 1975, is a professional golfer widely regarded as one of the greatest in the sport’s history. With African American, Thai, Chinese, and Native American ancestry, Woods began playing golf at an early age. He went professional in 1996 at age 20. One year later, Woods became the youngest person and first African American to win the Masters. He’s credited with breaking barriers and increasing the sport’s global popularity.

Off the course, Woods is known for his philanthropic efforts as co-founder of the TGR Foundation, which provides educational opportunities for underserved youth.

As the 2025 political landscape unfolds, future interactions between Woods and Trump could draw attention, given Trump’s ongoing presence in both politics and the golf industry.

There is something about a rivalry that drives people into excellence.

Lionel Messi had Cristiano Ronaldo. Magic Johnson had Larry Bird. Tiger Woods had Phil Mickelson. And now Charlie has Miles Russell.

The young Russell at the age of 16 has already appeared in two PGA Tour events in 2024. While he did not make the cut, he impressed everyone with his performance. He is going strong in the junior circuit having recently claimed the AJGA Simplify Championship.

On the other side, Charlie Woods is set to return after the tragic passing of his grandmother Kultida Woods on February 4. The young golfer is teeing off at the Dustin Johnson World Junior Golf Championship at TPC Myrtle Beach from February 28 to March 2. The event will feature 31 of the top 50 junior players. While the younger Woods is getting ready to make his comeback, another prodigy is making waves at the right moment.

Tiger Woods leans on kids Sam and Charlie for support as he announces  family heartbreak — statement | HELLO!

READ: Golf fans buzzing with latest Charlie Woods news

Miles Russell dominated the field in a wire-to-wire win at Carlton Woods in Texas to secure the Simplify Championship trophy that has a storied reputation. He shot a one under par for the final round to finish with an 11 under par score for the tournament.

The Simplify Championship has had big-name winners over the years like Jim Furyk, Jordan Spieth, and Rickie Fowler, all golfers who have graced the top of the professional circuit. The Florida teenager won by two strokes against fellow amateurs Michael Riebe and Giuseppe Puebla. He had previously finished T14 at this event last year.

“I played really solid for all three rounds. The second round especially even though the weather wasn’t as good and today I played fine outside of No. 18 but otherwise it was a good day. It was a great way to start off 2025,” Russell stated, referring to his uncharacteristic double bogey on hole 18. But his victory was more or less assured at that point.

With Miles Russel in prime winning form, as this is his second invitational title in as many participations, Charlie Woods will be looking to make his comeback strong.

Post the Dustin Johnson World Junior Golf Championship, Woods is also set to feature at the Junior Invitational that is taking place at the Sage Valley Golf Club in Graniteville, South Carolina. The tournament which takes place from March 19 to March 22 features 36 highest-ranked boy golfers and 24 highest-ranked girl golfers.

Amongst the girls is the very familiar and famous granddaughter of the President of the United States, Kai Trump. The field on the girl’s side consists of the World No.1 Junior Golfer Asterisk Talley while the boys’ side has the top 6 competing. The current No.1 Miles Russell, Luke Colton, Michael Riebe, Louis Klein, Tyler Watts, and Logan Reilly will pose a strong challenge to Tiger Woods’s son.

Tiger Woods’ teenage son Charlie is set to play an event that is widely considered junior golf’s version of The Masters. 

The 16-year-old is listed among the entrants for the Junior Invitational at Sage Valley in Graniteville, South Carolina.

Donald Trump’s talented granddaughter Kai Trump, 15, is also in the field for the tournament played over 19-22 March.

Charlie Woods joins Tiger Woods on driving range Sunday at Masters - PGA  TOUR

READ: ‘She meant everything to me’: Tiger Woods speaks publicly for first time since mother’s passing

Past winners of the prestigious event include Scottie Scheffler (2014), Joaquin Niemann (2017), Akshay Bhatia (2018), Austin Eckroat (2016), Carson Young (2012) and Aldrich Potgieter.

The girls’ event debuted in 2022. Former Augusta National Women’s Amateur champion Anna Davis won in 2023. Asterisk Talley is the reigning champion.

Charlie, who recently celebrated his 16th birthday, is currently No. 713 in the American Junior Golf Association ranking.

He began gaining public attention in 2020 when he participated in the PNC Championship with dad Tiger aged 11.

They have played every edition of the parent/child PGA Tour event since.

Tiger and Charlie were defeated in a playoff by Bernhard Langer and his son Jason in the 2024 PNC Championship.

Charlie qualified for his first ever U.S. Junior Amateur last summer.

His father won the tournament in 1991, 1992 and 1993.

Unfortunately for Charlie, he missed out on the weekend action by 18 strokes.

Charlie opened up on that disappointment last December, telling reporters: “I was so focused on winning and how I played that it kind of crept into kind of how am I going to win, instead of how I’m going to play the shot, and it kind of built up and that caused two very, very bad rounds of golf.”

Other notable achievements in Charlie’s career so far include winning the South Florida PGA Junior Cup.

And he also helped the Benjamin School to a state team title in 2023, a few months removed from winning a Hurricane Junior Tour event.

Junior Invitational fields:

Boys

Tyler Mawhinney
Ronin Banerjee
Will Hartman
Hamilton Coleman
Tyler Watts
Henry Guan
Joshua Bai
Luke Colton
Lev Grinberg
Mason Howell
Carson Bertagnole
Kartik Singh
Louis Klein
Viggo Olsson Mork
Trevor Gutschewski
Jackson Byrd
Miles Russell
Michael Riebe
Le Khanh Hung
Joshua Kim
Hugo Le Goff
Logan Reilly
Robby Turnbull
Oscar Couilleau
Thanawin Lee
Giovanni Binaghi
Dan Hayes
Nguyen Ang Minh
Pennson Badgett
Evan Pena
Bowen Mauss
Aidan Lawson
Ben Bolton
Rayhan Latief
John Daniel Culbreth
Haoyi Wang
Charlie Woods

Girls

Amelie Zalsman
Scarlett Schremmer
Natalie Yen
Jude Lee
Elizabeth Rudisill
Aphrodite Deng
Mia Clausen
Louise Uma Landgraf
Havanna Torstensson
Gianna Clemente
Luana Valero Moyano
Avery McCrery
Nikki Oh
Asterisk Talley
Sara Brentchenoff
Pimpisa Rubrong
Achiraya Sriwong
Sarah Hammett
Alice Kong
Soomin Oh
Sofia Cherif Essakali
Yujie Liu
Yijia Ren
Kai Trump

Tiger Woods spoke publicly for the first time since his mother’s passing, spending time with Jim Nantz and Trevor Immelman in the CBS broadcast booth during the final round of The Genesis Invitational on Sunday.

Woods called his mother, Kultida, his “rock.” Woods was expected to make his season debut at this week’s Genesis Invitational, a tournament he hosts. He withdrew earlier this week, citing his mom’s death. Kultida Woods passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 4. She was 80 years old.

“It’s been a tough process to go through but I’ve had amazing family support,” Woods told Nantz and Immelman. “All the players have reached out that were playing here this week. The amount of texts and emails and nice messages of support I got has really helped. It’s really meant a lot to me.

Tiger Woods announces death of mother Kultida Woods in heartfelt post - ABC  News

“She meant everything to me and losing her has been a very hard and difficult process to go through.”

Woods shared memories of Kultida driving him around to golf tournaments all across Southern California and making sure Woods prioritized his academics.

“If I didn’t get any homework done, I wasn’t allowed to play,” Woods said. “… School came first before any sport I was playing.”

The seventh hole pin flag on the Torrey Pines South Course was replaced with a white flag during the four rounds of competition at The Genesis Invitational, honoring Kultida. The flag has no logos or numbers. The gesture is meant to honor Kultida’s heritage. White symbolizes purity, wisdom and longevity in Buddhism. The number seven is also integral in Buddhist culture, tied to seven factors of enlightenment.

Additionally, players wore custom red pins during The Genesis Invitational’s final round in Kultida’s memory. Woods sported the tribute pin as he arrived at Torrey Pines for Sunday’s final round.

They say excellence has a unique taste—one that only the truly exceptional can savor. In the world of golf, this refined palate for greatness has been TaylorMade’s signature since 1979, when Gary Adams’s revolutionary stainless steel metalwood driver first changed the game forever. From that moment, the brand’s story became intertwined with golf’s greatest legends.

When Tiger Woods chose the sports equipment company in 2017, it wasn’t just another deal—it evolved into a partnership that led to the creation of the Sun Day Red brand in 2024. When Rory McIlroy signed his landmark deal, it wasn’t just about equipment—it was about shaping golf’s future. Even as the sport evolved, TaylorMade’s eye for exceptional talent remained unwavering, bringing stars like Scottie Scheffler, Nelly Korda, and Charley Hull into their fold.

And now, a new rising star joins this league of golf’s elite, ready to make her mark in the world of golf. What’s up guys? This is Kai Trump. And I’m officially partnering up with Team TaylorMade,” announced Donald Trump’s granddaughter in an Instagram Reel dated February 14, marking another historic chapter in TaylorMade’s legacy of prestigious partnerships. Captioned, “I’m proud to officially be joining team TaylorMade! This has been a dream of mine since I was a little kid and I can’t wait for the journey ahead. Excited to see what we can accomplish together in the future!” the video showed the budding golfer showing off her skills.tiger woods President Trump

The significance runs deep. At just 17, the University of Miami committ’s signing with TaylorMade marks another milestone in her already impressive career trajectory. The high school golf sensation, who recently inked a deal with Leaf Trading Cards in January 2025, brings with her a NIL valuation of $1.2 million—ranking No. 1 in women’s high school golf. Her social media influence, with over 5 million followers across platforms, represents a new era in golf where athletic excellence meets digital presence.

Having said that, it’s understandable why the brand would rope in the amateur golfer. Having delved into the sport at the young age of four, she’s turned heads throughout—firstly by becoming the varsity golf team captain in her second year and garnering multiple regional and conference championships, at The Benjamin School in Palm Beach, Florida. Additionally, the youngster also won the 2022 Women’s Club Championship and the 2024 Ladies Club Championship at Trump International Palm Beach.

Safe to say that this strategic alliance between a historic golf brand and one of the sport’s most promising young talents who’s already ranking No. 81 in overall NIL rankings, is going to pay the latter in dividends.

Tiger Woods spoke publicly for the first time since his mother’s passing, spending time with Jim Nantz and Trevor Immelman in the CBS broadcast booth during the final round of The Genesis Invitational on Sunday.

Woods called his mother, Kultida, his “rock.” Woods was expected to make his season debut at this week’s Genesis Invitational, a tournament he hosts. He withdrew earlier this week, citing his mom’s death. Kultida Woods passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 4. She was 80 years old.

“It’s been a tough process to go through but I’ve had amazing family support,” Woods told Nantz and Immelman. “All the players have reached out that were playing here this week. The amount of texts and emails and nice messages of support I got has really helped. It’s really meant a lot to me.

“She meant everything to me and losing her has been a very hard and difficult process to go through.”

Woods shared memories of Kultida driving him around to golf tournaments all across Southern California and making sure Woods prioritized his academics.Tiger Woods

“If I didn’t get any homework done, I wasn’t allowed to play,” Woods said. “… School came first before any sport I was playing.”

The seventh hole pin flag on the Torrey Pines South Course was replaced with a white flag during the four rounds of competition at The Genesis Invitational, honoring Kultida. The flag has no logos or numbers. The gesture is meant to honor Kultida’s heritage. White symbolizes purity, wisdom and longevity in Buddhism. The number seven is also integral in Buddhist culture, tied to seven factors of enlightenment.

Additionally, players wore custom red pins during The Genesis Invitational’s final round in Kultida’s memory. Woods sported the tribute pin as he arrived at Torrey Pines for Sunday’s final round.

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