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Tiger Woods underwent emergency surgery on Tuesday after sustaining serious injuries in a rollover accident in Los Angeles. Woods, the 45-year-old golfing legend, was the only person in the vehicle, which suffered “major damage” in the crash, officials said.
Woods is awake, responsive and recovering from “long surgery” on his lower right leg and ankle, according to a statement posted to his Twitter account Wednesday morning. “We thank everyone for the support and the amazing messages during this difficult time.”
MPs responded to the scene at 7:12 a.m. local time on Tuesday, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said. His SUV hurtled down the slope, traveling several hundred yards, turning over several times before landing on a hill in a Los Angeles suburb.
Woods was trapped inside, forcing first responders to use tools to open the windshield to get Woods out, local officials said. The beloved golfer was transported to Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, where he required emergency surgery.
“Mr. Woods sustained extensive orthopedic injuries to his right lower limb which were treated during emergency surgery, ”said Dr Anish Mahajan, hospital chief medical officer and interim CEO.
Woods’ SUV – a 2021 Genesis GV80 – was the only vehicle involved in the crash. Photos and videos from the scene showed extensive damage to the front of the vehicle. Golf clubs and other personal items were removed from the scene and a crane then removed the crumpled SUV.
Sheriff Alex Villanueva said there was no initial sign that Woods was weakened. The interior of the SUV remained intact, which gave Woods the cushion to survive, Villanueva said, adding that the investigation could take weeks.
MP Carlos Gonzalez, who responded to the scene, said Woods was calm but unable to stand on his own. “I asked what his name was, he told me his name was Tiger and at that point I immediately recognized him,” Gonzalez told reporters. “He seemed to be clear-headed and calm.”
Gonzalez said Woods wore his seat belt, which “greatly increased” his chances of survival. The MP called the stretch of road a “problem area” for speeding and accidents. “It was very lucky that Mr. Woods came out alive,” he said.
Ryan Kang / AP
Woods, a Florida resident, was in Los Angeles to host his annual golf tournament, the Genesis Invitational. He has spent the last two days filming with Discovery Golf TV with comedian David Spade and former NBA player Dwyane Wade, who released a video of their meeting.
Woods, widely regarded as one of the greatest golfers of all time, has 82 career PGA Tour victories, including 15 major championships. He is recovering from back surgery and has not played since the PNC Championship in December.
On February 16, Woods said he was still in rehabilitation after the procedure but did not confirm whether he would play at the Masters in April. “I feel good, I feel good. I’m a little stiff,” Woods said last week. “Also in the gym, I always do the mundane things you need to do for rehab.”
Professional golfers, athletes and celebrities including Jack Nicklaus, Alex rodriguez and Magic johnson, sent Woods his greetings as he recovers from his accident.
“Barbara and I have just learned of Tiger’s accident, and like everyone else, we are deeply concerned”, Nickalus tweeted Tuesday. “We want to offer him our sincere support and prayers during this difficult time. Please join us in wishing Tiger successful surgery and all the best for a full recovery.”
“I just saw the terrible news”, golfer Justin Rose tweeted. “We know how tough you are, we’ve seen it a hundred times. Hoping and praying that you’re okay my friend.”
Ringo HW Chiu / AP
This is the third automobile incident involving the majors champion. In 2009, his vehicle hit a tree. Soon after, revelations about infidelity emerged, costing Woods sponsorships and putting him in rehab. In 2017, Woods was arrested and charged with DUI when Florida police found him passed out while driving a parked car.
Two years later, Woods made a remarkable comeback, winning the Masters for the fifth time. “I had serious doubts after what happened a few years ago,” Woods said at the time. “I was very lucky to have another chance to do something that I love to do.”
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