Many hold Earl Woods in high esteem. A retired lieutenant colonel, Earl’s affection for the game of golf extended to his son. He shaped his game from a very young age, forging a strong bond that eventually shaped the Tiger Woods that we know today.

Earl Woods passed away after a prolonged battle with cancer on 3rd May 2006. The world was saddened at the loss, and no one mourned more than Tiger, who posted an emotional message after his father’s demise.

What did Tiger Woods say after his father passed away?

Tiger wrote on his website to share the upsetting news, saying he was “saddened to share the news.”

“My dad was my best friend and greatest role model, and I will miss him deeply. I’m overwhelmed when I think of all of the great things he accomplished in his life,” he said in his post. “He was an amazing dad, coach, mentor, soldier, husband and friend.”

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Tiger was close to his dad, as was apparent when he hugged his father in delight after almost every tournament victory. And there is a reason too.

“Tiger is the only one [child] I’ve been able to spend his entire life with,” Earl once said. Absences caused by military duty hurt his relationship with his children, but Earl rejuvenated off a fresh start with Tiger’s mother, Kutilda, and turned all focus to his son Tiger.

How did Earl Woods’ situation deteriorate?

Earl Woods was first diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1998. His habits of smoking and consuming fatty food had an adverse effect on his body, forcing him to undergo quadruple bypass heart surgery in the 1980s. Even before rolling in the new century, he had suffered a heart attack during the 1996 Tour Championship.

However, the world was made aware of the situation when Tiger won the Masters Tournament in 2005. He was left teary-eyed at the jacket ceremony, one his father wasn’t able to attend due to his condition.

“This one is for Dad,” Tiger had said. “Every time I’ve won this tournament my dad’s been there to give me a hug, and he wasn’t there today. I can’t wait to get home and see him and give him a big bear hug.”

Earl Woods passed away aged 74. Despite maintaining a strict day-to-day approach with his son, he let slip one of his predictions after Tiger won his second U.S. Amateur victory.

“Before he’s through, my son will win 14 major championships,” Earl had said in 1995. The prodigal son broke all expectations, even his father’s.

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