Golf icon Tiger Woods is undergoing surgery in Los Angeles for severe leg injuries he suffered in a single vehicle roll-over crash this morning. Initial reports came in that damage to the vehicle was so extensive that first responders had to use the jaws of life to get him out. Later, that was updated to clarify they thought they might need the equipment and had it standing by but it was not actually used in the rescue.
Tiger Woods hospitalized
According to the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department, “On February 23, 2021, at approximately 7:12 AM” they responded to “a single vehicle roll-over traffic collision on the border of Rolling Hills Estates and Rancho Palos Verdes.”
BREAKING: Tiger Woods transported to hospital with injuries following vehicle crash with "major damage," LA County Sheriff's Dept. says. pic.twitter.com/hxcGYAig8D
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) February 23, 2021
When they got there, they discovered a vehicle which had been “traveling northbound on Hawthorne Boulevard, at Blackhorse Road, when it crashed.” That’s when they found out who the driver was. “The driver and sole occupant was identified as PGA golfer, Eldrick ‘Tiger’ Woods.”
The golf superstar was “in the area for his annual Genesis Invitational golf tournament.” That’s held at the Riviera Country Club in the Pacific Palisades. The crash itself remains under investigation.
So far, the press has learned that Tiger “reportedly suffered multiple leg injuries and entered into surgery after being transported via ambulance.” The weather was clear this morning.
Initial reports that the damage was so extensive that the jaws of life were required to extricate Tiger Woods from the car have been reversed. The equipment was indeed standing by and the paramedics thought they might need it but didn’t have to use it.
Manager issues a statement
Tiger Woods’ manager issued a statement confirming the leg injuries are indeed serious and that Woods is currently undergoing surgery. His overall condition isn’t immediately clear. No other cars were involved in the roll-over Mark Steinberg verifies.
Tiger Woods’ vehicle after the crash this morning that now has him in surgery for what his agent is calling “multiple leg injuries.” pic.twitter.com/VbI5qvyj8g
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 23, 2021
“we thank you for your privacy and support.” Footage from a local news helicopter shows the car came to rest on its side, and the front end was heavily damaged. It landed down the hillside and the air bags appear to have been deployed.
A second crash happened “when a vehicle that had apparently stopped to help Woods got hit,” Christopher Thomas with Los Angeles County Fire Department relates. “That wreck was very minor, and no one was hurt.” This is the third big car accident Tiger has been in the headlines for.
This morning @LMTLASD responded to a roll-over collision in which @TigerWoods was injured. Please see our statement… pic.twitter.com/cSWOxKZC1w
— LA County Sheriffs (@LASDHQ) February 23, 2021
First was the 2009 incident where his wife beat him with a 9-iron when she caught him cheating and “his SUV ran over a fire hydrant and hit a tree.” In 2017, he had a little problem with pain meds and “Florida police found him asleep behind the wheel of a car parked awkwardly on the side of the road.”