Tiger Woods is slowly making his way back to social media since his arrest made headlines.

The professional golfer made his first post in remembrance of his late father and other veterans who sacrificed to serve their motherland. The father of the golf legend, Earl Woods, passed away in 2006 after a long battle with prostate cancer.

Tiger Woods’ parents were at the front lines of his cheer and training team. Over the years, he has praised them for their endless sacrifice, love, and support that helped him become the man, father, and athlete he is today.

Tiger Woods Lauds His Dad And Veterans For Their Service

Woods has been keeping a low profile online since news of his DUI arrest flooded the media. He was arrested for driving under the influence on March 27, 2026, after a single-vehicle rollover crash on Jupiter Island, Florida. The athlete pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor charges of DUI and refusal to submit to a lawful test. 

His first post, which came about two months after his arrest, was in recognition and praise for people who served in the force, just like his late father did years ago. “My father was a Special Forces operator with two tours in Vietnam and 20 years of service,” Woods began the message posted to his Instagram stories. 

“To all those like my father, we all say thank you for your sacrifices,” he added before going further to express that “Without them we wouldn’t have the greatest country on Earth,” seemingly reflecting on the sacrifices he saw his father give firsthand.

Inside Earl Woods’ Early Life

Earl was a soldier in the U.S. Army Special Forces deployed to a base in Thailand during the Vietnam War. He joined the U.S. Army after building an impressive career as a collegiate baseball player. Earl made a name for himself in the world of sports as the first Black man to play in the Big Eight Conference.

Carrying the same spirit of motivation into his career in the force, Earl rose through the ranks and eventually landed a position as a Green Beret. In the 1960s, during his second tour, he met the love of his life, Kultida, who worked on the Army base as a secretary at the time. 

The pair quickly fell in love, and, smitten with the Green Beret, Kultida followed Earl back to New York, where they married before settling down and starting a family in Cypress, California, as shared by PEOPLE. In 1975, they became a family of three, welcoming their son, Eldrick Tont Woods, popularly known as Tiger Woods.

Later in life, Earl became a published author, publishing his first book, “Training a Tiger: Raising a Winner in Both Golf and Life,” in 1997. The following year, he released a second book, “Playing Through: Straight Talk on Hard Work, Big Dreams, and Adventures with Tiger.”

Tiger Woods’ Parents Contributed Heavily To His Success

Woods often spoke of how his parents’ support and sacrifice helped his career. When he was just 14 years old, he was already preparing for a collegiate golf scholarship.

Earl and Kultida had to make a major financial decision for their son to compete at the American Junior Golf Association Tour because playing there was an open door to premier tournaments and college scouts.

The golf legend recalled during his 2022 World Golf Hall of Fame induction speech that his parents took out a second mortgage on their home so he could play at the AJGA. “That defined my upbringing,” he said, explaining how witnessing his mother’s endless sacrifices and his father’s work ethic affected him positively.

Kultida is also behind her son’s signature red polo, which he wears at his games. She told him his power color is red, and he noticed that when he wore a red shirt to play, he was on a hot winning streak, whereas when he switched colors to test the waters, he lost.

Earl was diagnosed with the illness in 1998. Woods announced his death on May 3, 2006, writing, “He was an amazing dad, coach, mentor, soldier, husband, and friend. I wouldn’t be where I am today without him, and I’m honored to continue his legacy of sharing and caring.”

The Golf Legend Almost Lost His Leg

On February 23, 2021, Woods was on his way to shoot promotional videos with Golf Digest magazine when his car crashed in a severe rollover accident.

The aftermath of the crash left him with compound fractures in his leg and a window of a possible leg amputation due to the severity of the injuries.

According to WeSalute, the athlete was bedridden for three months, became wheelchair-bound, and then reimagined his mobility with crutches.

Speaking about the accident months later, Woods said he felt “lucky to be alive and still have the limb.” He had to stay off the course till he was fully recovered, enough to play at the tournament.

This was not the first time Woods’ career saw a hiatus. After his father’s death, fifteen years earlier, the pro-golfer took his first major break to mourn Earl’s passing.

He revealed that the grief took a great toll on him and he “really had no desire to get back to the game of golf.” Woods admitted that playing the sport again was the hardest thing because he had a lot of great memories with his dad at the golf course.

Tiger Woods Is Standing Strong Behind His Girlfriend

Woods has been in a relationship with Vanessa Trump since early 2025, and the pair are reportedly very supportive of each other. Recently, Vanessa shared that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer and was already on a treatment plan with her doctors.

She noted in an Instagram post that she is going through this health challenge surrounded by her loved ones with a positive mindset. Friends, fans, and well-wishers wasted no time sending thoughts and prayers, including Ivanka Trump, who penned words of encouragement in the comments.

The Blast reported that, according to insiders, Woods has been standing closely by her side as she goes through the treatments.

He is confident that she will beat the odds and is doing everything he can to support her through this hurdle. They also noted that Woods deeply admires Vanessa’s positive attitude throughout the process.

The news of Vanessa’s diagnosis came shortly after the lovebirds were spotted attending her daughter’s high school graduation in Florida. Woods and other members of the Trump family were there to support and cheer Kai Trump on her special day.