Tiger Woods is awake and responsive following surgery on his leg as a result of serious injuries that he suffered in a car crash in Los Angeles recently. Reports say the 15-time golf super champion had to be “extricated from the wreck” by firefighters and paramedics.
A statement published on his Twitter account said he had suffered open fractures to his lower right leg and ankle. Injuries to his foot and ankle have been stabilised with screws and pins. Fortunately, Woods is currently awake, responsive and recovering in his hospital room,” added the statement, although it was reported that he was not yet, able to stand.
Carlos Gonzalez, Deputy from the LA County Sherriff’s Department said Woods was “fortunate to be alive.” Carlos was first on the scene of the accident which took place on the border of Rolling Hills Estates and Rancho Palos Verdes. Carlos Gonzalez said the golfer was “not able to stand under his own power” before being removed from the vehicle which sustained major damage.
He said that the Golf superstar was wearing his seatbelt and was “still calm and lucid” when he told him his name. “Fortunately, Mr Woods was able to come out of this alive,” he added.
LA County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said that Woods’ car “crossed the centre-divider to the point that it rested several hundred feet away” and “that indicates they were going at a relatively greater speed than normal”.
He added: “However, because it is downhill, it slopes and curves, that area has a high frequency of accidents. It is not uncommon.”
He said the car hit a kerb, a tree and rolled over several times. Villanueva added “there was no evidence of impairment” with Woods. However, Tiger Woods was recovering from the surgery after being treated at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center following the “high-speed” single-car accident outside Los Angeles.
In another report, Woods suffered “comminuted open fractures” to both the upper and lower portions of his tibia and fibula in his right leg, as well as damage to the ankle bones and trauma to the muscle and soft-tissue of the leg. A comminuted fracture is when a bone breaks into more than two pieces, and an open fracture suggests bone broke the skin.
As part of the surgical procedure, Woods’ right leg was stabilized by inserting a rod into the tibia. A surgical release of the covering of the muscle was also performed to relieve pressure due to swelling.
Woods was the sole occupant of a 2021 Genesis GV80 SUV when he headed northbound on a downhill, windy portion of Hawthorne Avenue, a two-lane road in Rancho Palos Verdes.
Villanueva said, ‘A neighbour called 911 to alert authorities of the accident, and Woods was conscious when they arrived on the scene.’
Personnel from the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department said the interior of the vehicle Woods was driving remained intact. The fact that Woods was wearing a seatbelt, allowed him to escape what “otherwise would have been a fatal crash,” There was no evidence of impairment, according to the sheriff’s department.
Woods’ longtime agent, Mark Steinberg, released a statement after the initial report of the crash, which occurred about 30 miles west of where Tiger grew up in Cypress: “Tiger Woods was in a single-car accident this morning in California where he suffered multiple leg injuries. He is currently in surgery and we thank you for your support.”
Woods was in California for a two-day content shoot with Golf Digest/GOLFTV after serving as host for the Genesis Invitational, which finished on Sunday. Pictures surfaced on social media of Woods smiling with Dwayne Wade and David Spade at Rolling Hills Country Club on Monday, but with his movement still restricted from the back procedure he had just a few months ago, he did not hit balls or play any holes. The shoot involved Woods giving on-course lessons to many celebrities, but he mostly provided instruction and hit a few putts. He was in good spirits on Monday but did not arrive at the course for the second day of shooting which was Tuesday.
Discovery Golf, the parent company of Golf Digest and GOLFTV, issued the following statement: “Tiger has a long-term partnership with Discovery; developing exclusive content for GOLFTV and Golf Digest. He was filming his latest series with us yesterday, which will see him giving on-course instruction to some celebrities including Jada Pinkett Smith, Dwyane Wade and David Spade. He was due to continue filming with us today.’’
“Everyone at Discovery and Golf Digest wishes Tiger a speedy recovery and our thoughts are with him, his family and his team at this time.”
On Sunday, Woods had told CBS’ Jim Nantz that he was awaiting the results of an upcoming MRI before he could ramp up practising and training for a return to competition.
Eldrick Tont “Tiger” Woods was born December 30, 1975. Tiger Woods is perhaps the greatest professional golfer in the world. He is tied for first in PGA Tour wins, ranks second in men’s major championships, and holds numerous golf records. Woods is widely regarded as one of the greatest golfers of all time and one of the most famous athletes of all time. He has been elected to the World Golf Hall of Fame.
Following an outstanding junior, college, and amateur golf career, Woods turned professional in 1996 at the age of 20. By the end of April 1997, he had won three PGA Tour events in addition to his first major, the 1997 Masters, which he won by 12 strokes in a record-breaking performance.
He reached number one in the world rankings for the first time in June 1997, less than a year after turning pro. Throughout the first decade of the 21st century, Woods was the dominant force in golf. He was the top-ranked golfer in the world from August 1999 to September 2004 (264 weeks) and again from June 2005 to October 2010 (281 weeks). During this time, he won 13 of golf’s major championships.