Tiger Woods was involved in a “high-speed” single-car accident in Los Angeles at 7:12am, Tuesday morning, per the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department, and was in “serious condition” after undergoing surgery for multiple injuries to his legs.
Woods was heading northbound on Hawthorne Avenue when his vehicle crossed onto the wrong side of the road and flipped onto a hillside. A neighbour called 911 to alert authorities of the accident, and Woods was conscious and able to communicate when they arrived on the scene.
Personnel from the LACSD suggested that the interior of the vehicle Woods was driving remained intact, and that, combined with the fact that Woods was wearing a seatbelt, allowed him to escape what “otherwise would have been a fatal crash.”
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There was no evidence of impairment, according to the sheriff’s department. Woods’ longtime agent, Mark Steinberg, released the following statement after the initial report of the crash, which occurred about 50 kilometres 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 privacy and support.”
As of Wednesday morning (AEDT), there was no update on the specifics of Tiger’s injuries or what the surgery entailed.
Woods, 45, 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, he did not hit balls or play any holes. The shoot involved Woods giving on-course lessons to a number of celebrities, but he mostly provided instruction and hit a few putts. He was in good spirits on Monday but did not arrive to the course for the second day of shooting.
On Sunday, Woods 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.
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News of the hospitalisation of one of sports’ biggest stars triggered an outpouring of support for Woods on social media and led to extensive coverage on news networks.
This is the latest in a long history of injuries for Woods, a 15-time Major champion and 82-time PGA Tour winner. He last competed alongside his son at the PNC Championship, which wrapped up on December 20 in Orlando. He then underwent a microdiscectomy procedure to remove a pressurised disc fragment that was pinching a nerve. It was his fifth back surgery overall and the first since his spinal fusion in April 2017.