Fifteen-time Major champion Tiger Woods, 45, was involved in a car accident on Tuesday morning, which left the golfer with multiple leg injuries. He was hospitalized following the single-vehicle crash in Los Angeles.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Woods was driving at high speeds when his SUV struck a raised median, crossed over into the opposite lane of traffic, and rolled over several times. The car came to a stop in a grassy area that was several hundred feet from where he had been driving. Chris Thomas, a representative of the Los Angeles County Fire Department, told ESPN’s Mark Schlabach that rescue personnel had to extract Woods from the windshield of the SUV.
Immediately after the crash, Woods was said to be awake and alert when firefighters and police arrived on the scene. After firefighters removed Woods from the vehicle by breaking through the car’s windshields, the golfer was quickly transported to the Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. A prybar and ax were used to remove Woods from the windshield.
Another car, which had stopped on the side of the road to assist Woods shortly after the accident, was also struck by another vehicle coming over the hill. Thomas said the latter incident was a minor traffic incident with no injuries.
Woods reportedly suffered serious leg injuries from the accident. Deputy Carlos Gonzalez, who was first to arrive on the scene, said Woods was calm and able to identify himself.
The 45-year-old underwent emergency surgery on his lower right leg and ankle. Dr. Anish Mahajan, the Chief Medical Officer and Interim CEO at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center released a statement describing the injuries.
“Comminuted open fractures affecting both the upper and lower portions of the tibia and fibula bones were stabilized by inserting a rod into the tibia,” Mahajan explained. “Additional injuries to the bones of the foot and ankle were stabilized with a combination of screws and pins. Trauma to the muscle and soft tissue of the leg required the surgical release of the covering of the muscles to relieve pressure due to swelling.”
According to a statement released by Woods, he is “awake, responsive, and recovering in his hospital room.”
The crash and injuries have hampered the 45-year-old’s plans to make a comeback. It is still too early to know whether a full recovery is possible or not. Considering Woods’s age and his lengthy injury history, the road to recovery will be slow and drawn out. The accident reportedly could have been fatal. Woods was lucky to have had his seatbelt on. It very likely saved his life.
This is not the first time that Woods has been plagued by controversy off of the golf course. He has had a messy relationship with illegal substances and alcohol. in May of 2017, Woods was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence. He pleaded guilty to charges of reckless driving in October of 2017. Prescription painkillers, a sleep medication, and marijuana were found in his system.
Immediately following this latest crash, many speculated that Woods was under the influence at the time of the accident. However, Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said the incident was “purely an accident” during a news conference on Wednesday. No criminal charges will be filed, as there were no signs that Woods was impaired.
Later on Wednesday, Villanueva told CNN that, when questioned at the hospital, Woods had “no recollection” of the crash occurring.
According to Golf Digest, Woods was in California for a two-day content shoot with Golf Digest/GOLFTV after serving as a host for the PGA Tour’s Genesis Invitational over the weekend. He briefly appeared on CBS’s broadcast of the Genesis Invitational, marking his last public appearance before Tuesday’s accident. Woods told CBS’s Jim Nantz that it was unclear when he would return to action after needing his fifth back surgery this past December.
The sports world was severely shaken up by the news of Woods’s accident. Justin Thomas, a close friend of Woods’s on the PGA Tour, addressed the accident on Tuesday saying he was “sick to my stomach.”
Speaking at a press conference, Thomas said that “It hurts to see one of your closest friends gets in an accident.”
“Man, I just hope he’s all right,” he added. “I’m just worried for his kids, I’m sure they’re struggling.”
Jay Monahan, the PGA Tour commissioner, said in a statement on Tuesday that he was aware of the crash. “We are awaiting further information when he comes out of surgery,” Monahan said. “On behalf of the PGA Tour and our players, Tiger is in our prayers and will have our full support as he recovers.”
The one golfer whom Woods trails in the sport’s Major championship count, Jack Nicklaus, said in a tweet that “We want to offer him our heartfelt support and prayers at this difficult time. Please join us in wishing Tiger a successful surgery and all the best for a full recovery.”
Bryson DeChambeau, who has been a frequent practice partner of Woods, also took to Twitter. “Heartbroken and shocked to hear about Tiger Woods accident today. My thoughts and prayers are with him for a full recovery.”
Others from the golf world, including Rickie Fowler, Ian Poulter and Adam Scott, also voiced their support for Woods.
News of Woods’s crash, though, extended far beyond the golf world as athletes from all across the sports world show their support for Woods in his recovery.
Keep checking back for more updates on the latest Tiger Woods news.
