An SUV driven by Tiger Woods crashed and rolled over in Los Angeles Tuesday morning. The golf superstar had multiple leg injuries, the authorities and his agent said.
Woods had surgery on Tuesday afternoon after the car crash, his agent said.
According to Lt. Michael White of the Los Angeles County’s Sheriff’s Department, his injuries are not life threatening.
Woods, who was the only person in the SUV, was “rescued from the wreck with the” jaws of life “by Los Angeles County firefighters and paramedics and then taken by ambulance to a local hospital for his injuries,” said the sheriff. Department in a tweet.
A lieutenant in the sheriff’s department later said in a television interview that there was no evidence that the jaws of life were being used.
The MPs arrived at the scene of the accident on the border between Rolling Hills Estates and Rancho Palos Verdes at around 7:12 a.m.
The vehicle “suffered major damage,” authorities said.
The sheriff’s department has scheduled a press conference at 6 p.m. ET on the crash.
LA County Sheriff’s officers are investigating an accident involving golfer Tiger Woods on Hawthorne Blvd. at Ranch Paos Verdes, February 23, 2021.
Wally Skalij | Los Angeles Times | Getty Images
Woods, 45, was at Rolling Hills Resort last week after hosting the Genesis Invitational tournament. He shot under a contract with Golf Digest and the Discovery Channel.
His agent, Mark Steinberg, said in a statement, “Tiger Woods was in a car accident in California this morning in which he sustained multiple leg injuries.”
“He is currently in surgery and we thank you for your privacy and assistance,” Steinberg said.
Last month, Woods announced that he “recently” had a fifth microdisectomy on his back to remove a pressurized disc fragment that caused him pain during the PNC championship in Orlando, Florida, in December.
“I’m looking forward to starting training and focusing on getting back on tour,” Woods said in a January statement.
Woods last competed in the PNC Championship, which ended on December 20th. He played in the tournament with his 11 year old son Charlie Woods. The duo came in seventh.
Tiger Woods watches from the 18th hole during the final round of the Genesis Invitational golf tournament at the Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, California on February 21, 2021.
Brian Rothmüller | Icon Sportswire | Getty Images
The resident of Jupiter, Florida has won 82 PGA titles, most of which were related to Sam Snead. He has won 15 major championships, including five Masters tournaments.
PGA Commissioner Jay Monahan said in a statement: “”We were made aware of the Tiger Woods car accident today. We are waiting for more information when he comes out of the operation. “
“On behalf of the PGA TOUR and our players, Tiger is in our prayers and will have our full support when he recovers,” said Monahan.
Sportswear giant Nike, which sponsors Woods, said in a statement: “We follow the news all around Tiger and our thoughts and hearts are with him and his family at this time.”
Woods Equipment and Club Sponsor TaylorMade Gold said: “We are shocked at the news of Tiger Woods’ accident this morning and send our thoughts and prayers to him, his family and his team as they assist him through his operation recovery . “
Wood’s stellar career was shaken in November 2009 when he crashed an SUV into a fire hydrant one morning outside his then home in Windermere, Florida.
Woods was knocked unconscious for more than five minutes in that accident, and his then-wife, Elin Nordegren, reportedly used a golf club to smash a window in the vehicle and pull it out.
After this mysterious crash, Woods is said to have had numerous extramarital affairs. Soon after, he entered a Mississippi clinic for treatment.
In May 2017, Woods was accused of driving under the Florida influence after police discovered him sleeping in a damaged car. He later apologized and issued a statement to several reporters saying that he assumed full responsibility for the arrest, which he attributed to “an unexpected reaction” to a mixture of prescribed drugs.
“I want the public to know it’s not alcohol,” Woods said at the time.
“I would like to wholeheartedly apologize to my family, friends and fans. I also expect more from myself,” said Woods. “I will do everything in my power to make sure this never happens again.”
A month after this arrest, Woods entered a clinic for treatment for problems with prescription pain medication and a sleep disorder.
Steinberg said at the time that Woods used pain medication to get up and move around while he was recovering from four back surgeries.
Senior golfer Justin Thomas choked on Tuesday speaking about Woods at a press conference.
“I have a stomach problem. It hurts to see that one of my closest friends is in an accident and I just hope he’s okay,” Thomas told reporters. “I’m just worried about his children. I’m sure they are fighting.”
Woods was spotted on social media on a golf course with former Miami Heat basketball star Dwyane Wade on Monday.
Actor David Spade also tweeted a photo of himself with Woods on the course on Monday.
– CNBC’s Jessica Golden and Amanda Macias contributed to this report.
