May 13, 2012 - Ponte Vedra, Florida, USA - Tiger Woods during the final round of the Players Championship at the TPC Sawgrass on May 13, 2012 in Ponte Vedra, Fla. ..ZUMA PRESS/ Scott A. Miller. Copyright: xScottxA.xMillerx
May 13, 2012 - Ponte Vedra, Florida, USA - Tiger Woods during the final round of the Players Championship at the TPC Sawgrass on May 13, 2012 in Ponte Vedra, Fla. ..ZUMA PRESS/ Scott A. Miller. Copyright: xScottxA.xMillerx
Tiger Woods paused his recovery hiatus on Memorial Day to share a rare tribute to his father’s Special Forces service. The post marked his first public message since stepping away from golf in March.
The 50-year-old honored the fallen service members in a personal note shared on X, singling out his late father's military career. "My father was a Special Forces operator with two tours in Vietnam and 20 years of service," he wrote.
"To all those like my father, we all say thank you for your sacrifices. Without them, we wouldn't have the greatest country on Earth."
It was the first post Woods shared on X since March 31. His previous communication focused on his health. He said he was stepping away from golf to focus on a “lasting recovery.”
Woods has been staying in Switzerland, where reports say he is undergoing treatment at a rehabilitation facility. Earlier this month, he briefly returned to Florida before flying back to Switzerland over the weekend.
Earl Woods retired from the U.S. Army as a lieutenant colonel. He died in 2006 at the age of 74. He served two tours in Vietnam and spent 20 years in the military. The discipline he learned there later helped shape Tiger Woods’ career.
That same discipline became a big reason for Tiger’s success, including 82 PGA Tour wins and 15 major titles.
Before the Swing, Tiger Woods' Father Was a Soldier
Earl Woods was not only Tiger’s first golf coach. He was also a Green Beret soldier.
He used the mental strength he learned in the military to train Tiger. During practice, he would make noise or drop a bag while Tiger was swinging to teach him how to stay calm under pressure. The training worked.
Tiger later became famous for staying calm and finishing strong in big moments.
Earl saw something bigger than golf in Tiger from a young age. At a banquet in 1996, he said about his son, “He will transcend this game and bring to the world a humanitarianism which has never been known before.”
Earl did not live long enough to see everything Tiger achieved later. But on Memorial Day in 2026, Tiger made sure people still remembered his father.
Trending slideshow: 13 Tiger Woods Moments That Proved He’s Built Different
Aditi Singh
13 Tiger Woods Moments That Proved He’s Built DifferentTiger Woods has defined modern golf with moments of brilliance, resilience, and sheer skill from his breakthrough at the 1997 Masters to his dramatic comeback at the 2019 Masters. His career is filled with unforgettable highlights. With Woods’ return to competition, here’s a look back at the moments that shaped Woods’ legacy of victories, memorable shots, and historic achievements. Jason Parkhurst-USA TODAY SportsAt the 1999 PGA Championship at Medinah Country Club, Tiger won his first PGA title and second major with a total of 277. He trailed early rounds behind young Sergio Garcia, who led after the first round with 66. However, in the final round, the then-23-year-old built a five-shot lead, faced a late challenge from Garcia’s remarkable 16th-hole shot, and held steady to secure victory. Gash/APOne phrase. One putt. One legend. At the 2001 Players Championship, Tiger’s long, snaking birdie putt on 17 was already unforgettable. But as the ball rolled closer, Gary Koch’s now-iconic commentary “Better than most.... Better than most!” cemented it in history. Jeff Curry-USA TODAY SportsHoylake. 2006. This one wasn’t just about golf; it was about heart. Just months after losing his father and lifelong coach Earl Woods on May 3, 2006, Tiger channelled his grief into precision. His win over Chris DiMarco was calculated, controlled, and deeply personal. “This one is for dad,” Woods said after the win. Richard Sellers/ZUMA Press/ImagoAfter years of surgeries, doubts, and comebacks that never quite stuck, Tiger finally roared back to the winner’s circle at East Lake, beating Billy Horschel. His 80th PGA Tour win on Sunday, September 23, became memorable for more reasons than one. The sea of fans flooding the 18th fairway behind him was a testament to his legendary status. Curtis Compton, Atlanta Journal /Newscom World/ImagoThis was Woods’ fifth professional start after turning pro in August 1996 first PGA Tour win, and the start of something unstoppable. Going toe-to-toe with Davis Love III, a 20-year-old Tiger beat him on the first hole of sudden death, proving he wasn’t hype. He was real. The playoff win earned him a ticket to the '97 Masters. And from there? The legend was born. Mark Newcombe/ImagoWinning all four majors in a calendar year is nearly impossible. So Tiger just won them in a row instead. His victory at the 2001 Masters completed the “Tiger Slam,” making him the only player to ever hold all four modern majors (The U.S. Open, The Open Championship, The PGA Championship, and The Masters Tournament) at once. Sancetta/APNo one else even came close. At Pebble Beach, Tiger crushed the field by 15 strokes. He was the only player under par. It wasn’t just a win, it was a masterclass. The kind of performance that makes you wonder if you’re watching a human or a machine built for golf destruction. Butler/APOne of the reasons the rowdy 16th in Scottsdale is known as ‘The Coliseum’ today is because of this hole-in-one. Tiger Woods dropped an ace that sent fans into absolute chaos. Beer flying, fans screaming, and especially Tiger’s fist-pumping celebration turned the 16th at Scottsdale into ‘The Loudest Hole in Golf.’ Jim Damaske/ZUMA Press Wire/ImagoTaking his spot at the fairway bunker at Glen Abbey Golf Club, Tiger Woods smashed 218 yards over water, in biting cold, with a 6 iron. It was a shot that helped Woods defeat his playing partner, Grant Waite, by one stroke. He downplayed it afterwards, but fans didn’t. It also sealed his win and the rare “Triple Crown” of Canadian, British, and U.S. Opens in the same year. AP Photo/Ed ReinkeThat chip on the par-3 16th hole, aka"Redbud," at Augusta National, the perfect read, the slow roll, the Nike swoosh logo paused at the lip, the crowd holding its breath and then… drop. Today, it’s remembered as one of the most iconic shots in Masters history that helped Woods earn his fourth Green Jacket in a playoff. Curtis Compton, Atlanta Journal/Newscom World/ImagoOne leg. Torn ACL. Stress fractures. And still, he won. Tiger forced a playoff with a dramatic putt on 18, then gutted out 18 more holes and a sudden death against Rocco Mediate. And when Woods lined up to take the swing at the 7th hole at Torrey Pines, he won it on the first hole. It was peak Tiger, who squeezed out a win despite the pain and pressure. Mary Evans/Allstar via Richard SellersThis was the coronation. A 21-year-old Tiger Woods turned Augusta into his playground, winning by 12 shots over Tom Kite in his first major in record-breaking fashion. After a shaky front nine on Thursday, he flipped a switch and never looked back. Golf hadn’t seen anything like it before and hasn’t since. Sancetta/APA moment that felt more like a movie, Tiger Woods sank the winning putt on the 18th at the Augusta National. After years of surgeries, controversies, and being written off, Tiger clawed his way back to win his 15th major and the first one in 11 years. The embrace with his kids on the same green where he’d once hugged his dad? Full circle. Pure emotion. Golf’s greatest comeback and maybe its greatest moment. Allen Eyestone / The Augusta Chronicle/USA TODAY Sports
