Tiger Woods, the legendary golfer, announced on Monday that he will not be participating in the Genesis Invitational due to the emotional toll of his mother’s recent death.

The Loss of a Beloved Figure

Woods shared last week that his mother, Kultida Woods, passed away at the age of 78. In light of this significant loss, he expressed his struggle in coming to terms with her passing.

“I had intentions of playing this week, but I’m just not ready,” Woods stated in his announcement. “I prepared as best as I could, knowing that it’s what my Mom would have wanted, but I’m still processing her loss.”

Expressions of Support

In his statement, Woods thanked everyone who reached out to him during this difficult time. He mentioned hopes of being present at Torrey Pines later in the week, underlining his appreciation for the kindness shown to him since his mother’s death.

A Noteworthy Round with the President

On the eve of this announcement, Woods played a round of golf with former President Donald Trump. This occurred before Trump departed for New Orleans to attend Super Bowl LIX. Following the news of Kultida Woods’ passing, Trump extended his condolences, highlighting the profound influence she had on her son.

“I was just informed that Tiger Woods’ wonderful mother, Kultida, passed away — she has gone onto greener fairways!” Trump wrote in a social media post. “Kultida Woods was an amazing influence on Tiger and gave him much of his strength and brilliance. Melania and I send our love and prayers to Tiger and his incredible family!”

The Genesis Invitational and Future Plans

The Genesis Invitational is organized by Woods’ foundation and is notable for not having a cut line, allowing all participating golfers to play through the entire event. If he had participated, it would have marked Woods’ first tournament since undergoing a microdiscectomy in September to relieve leg pain.

This year, the event will be held at Torrey Pines rather than its usual location at Riviera, due to the wildfires that affected the Los Angeles area in January.

As the golf community rallies around him, Woods continues to navigate this challenging period, focusing on healing and honoring his mother’s memory.