Former world number one American golfer Tiger Woods suffered “multiple leg injuries” in a serious car accident in Los Angeles on Tuesday.
Golf King Tiger Woods car accident
Woods was taken to the hospital where he went immediately to the operating room for surgery, according to his agent, Mark Steinberg, to the specialized medium Golf Digest .
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said it responded at about 7:12 a.m. local time to a car rollover that sustained “severe damage.”
Woods, 45, a winner of 15 major tournaments, was pulled from the vehicle by firefighters and paramedics.
According to authorities, the golfer was conscious and was immediately taken to Harbor-UCLA Medical Center.
Woods had “open fractures involving the tibia and fibula bones” in the lower part of his right leg, which during the operation has been “stabilized by inserting a rod into the tibia.”
For the foot and ankle injuries the medical team used screws and bolts. “He is awake, responsive and recovering in his hospital room ,” added a statement, posted on Woods’ Twitter account.
The accident occurred “on the border between Rolling Hills Estates and Rancho Palos Verdes,” a rural and affluent area near several golf courses located southwest of downtown Los Angeles.
Sheriff Alex Villanueva said Tuesday afternoon that an investigation will take place “that may take days or even weeks to reach conclusions,” he said.
Villanueva stated that no immediate evidence was found that Woods was impaired to drive.
As part of the investigation, they will investigate if Woods exceeded the speed limit in the area or if there were traces of drugs, narcotics or alcohol in his body.
“This area has a high frequency of accidents because the road is downhill and there are many curves,” said Villanueva.
Woods was aboard a 2021 Genesis pickup that bore the logo of a golf tournament he had hosted over the weekend.
The car overturned “several times and crashed into a tree,” the sheriff described.
Which indicates, according to his preliminary analysis, that he was probably driving “at a speed relatively faster than normal.”
According to local reports, the athlete had planned to continue filming a television program on the Discovery network on Tuesday.
Police officer Carlos González, who arrived at the crash site first, said Woods “was not able to stand up” when he was removed from the vehicle.
He also said the golfer was wearing a seat belt and was “calm and clear-headed” when he told the agent his name.
“It is fortunate that Mr. Woods came out of this alive,” he added.
Accident history
According to journalist Kevin Baxter of the local Los Angeles Times , Woods had undergone back surgery weeks ago .
The athlete had a traffic accident in November 2009 which was followed by the end of his marriage due to infidelity and a hiatus in his golf career.
The athlete won five titles in 2013, but his participation in tournaments declined in the following years due to chronic back pain and a series of surgeries.
In 2017, Woods was arrested on suspicion of intoxicated driving when he was found asleep behind the wheel.
The golfer pleaded guilty to uncontrolled driving.
It was learned that he was taking medication while recovering from a spinal fusion operation that allowed him to resume his career.
Woods ended an 11-year wait to win a major title when he won the Augusta Masters in 2019.
Woods shares the record for PGA Tour wins with 82 trophies alongside Sam Snead and is three titles behind Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 majors .
The golfer had recently said that he hoped to play in this year’s Masters edition next April after recovering from surgery.
It ended 2019 as sixth in the world but now ranks 50th.
BBC golf correspondent Iain Carter explained that Woods had been on a television show on Sunday and that “many viewers were concerned to see him doubtful about the progress of his recovery and whether or not he might be ready for the Masters. “.
“Any idea of that is now discarded and it is no longer a priority,” Carter said.