Tiger Woods injured in car crash | Live updates and latest news
Tiger Woods hospitalised after car accident: live updates
Tiger Woods injured, hospitalised after crash
- TMZ release audio of dispatch call
- Woods suffered "serious leg injuries" in the crash, including "shattered ankle", two leg fractures (one compound) and lacerations. Injuries not life threatening.
- The golfer's car, a Genesis GV80 luxury SUV, crossed the road, hit the kerb, a tree and rolled over several times.
- Neighbours alerted emergency services to the crash.
- Woods was conscious at the scene, "lucid and calm". He was removed from the vehicle by firefighters and taken to a local hospital, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, where he underwent surgery.
- Deputies saw no "evidence of impairment"
- Woods was not freed using Jaws of Life hydraulic rescue equipment, but a prying tool and an axe.
- Officials confirm vehicle was travelling at "a relatively greater speed than normal". The airbags deployed and Woods was wearing his seatbelt.
Woods won't face any charges over car crash - LA County sheriff
Tiger Woods isn’t expected to face any criminal charges as a result of the car crash he suffered in California on Tuesday, LA County Sheriff Alex Villanueva has said.
"He was not drunk," Villanueva said in response to speculation that the golf star might have been driving while impaired. He described the incident as "purely an accident".
Woods "will need to heal his bones, but also his muscles" - orthopedic surgeon
Writing in The Guardian, orthopedic surgeon Jonathan D Gelber has given his view on Tiger Woods’ chances of returning to professional golf. While the leg fractures suffered by the 45-year-old have garnered the most attention, he explains, healing the broken bones may be the most straightforward element of Woods’ recovery.
"The most recent statement concerning Woods mentioned releasing the covering of his muscles to relieve pressure," Gelber said. "Of all the potential injuries mentioned, this is the most rare, and often the most serious. It points to a condition called compartment syndrome, which is a true orthopedic emergency. As bleeding or swelling occurs in the leg, the pressure can overpower the body’s ability to pump blood to the leg muscles. As a result, the muscle can lose blood flow and begin to die if the pressure is not released. This may require multiple large incisions around the leg. Once the swelling goes down, the skin can sometimes be closed again side-to-side, but other times the leg may require a skin graft.
"We all tend to focus on the bones in these cases, but the bones may only take six to eight weeks to heal. The bigger issue for Woods may be the strength in his legs. High-level athletes use their whole body when competing. Whether it’s pitching, boxing or swinging a golf club, generating energy and momentum are keys to optimal outcomes. Woods has already had segments of his spine fused due to repeated surgeries to remove bulging disc material. Once parts of the spine fuse together, more and more rotation is lost. And with Woods’s powerful swing, every degree counts. Moving forward, he will need to heal his bones, but also his muscles. He will also need to strengthen those muscles and reestablish the orchestral performance that is a powerful golf swing. That can take a year or longer even with an arthroscopic knee surgery, let alone multiple fractures and compartment syndrome."
Woods' accident casts shadow over World Golf Championships event
Tiger Woods' car accident cast a shadow over the World Golf Championships (WGC) event in Bradenton, Florida, on Wednesday, as the players prepared for the tournament
The horrific crash has stunned the world of professional sport, with some commentators speculating as to whether it could end the career of the greatest golfer of his generation.
"It's a terrible situation, you never want anything bad to happen to people," said world number one Dustin Johnson, who found out about the accident while playing on the back nine of the Concession Golf Club. "Obviously (I) hope for a speedy recovery."
Fourth-ranked Xander Schauffele told reporters he practised with a "sombre" group on the putting green on Tuesday, and was working to stay focused ahead of the first round on Thursday.
"It's kind of strange to share the same idol as everyone else out here, but we all do for a good reason," said the 27-year-old American. "He is the reason a lot of us are playing golf and the reason a lot of us do what we do."
Woods, an 82-time PGA Tour winner, had hoped to compete in the upcoming Masters, the site of his epic career comeback, where he broke an 11-year major drought in 2019 after undergoing numerous surgeries.
"There's so much speculation right now, and I hate speculating, but I would really hate to see that if he wouldn't be able to play golf again," said Schauffele. "He's had some incredible comebacks and I think this would be, by far, the most epic comeback if he was able to come back and play golf again."
Four-time major winner Rory McIlroy said he was grateful that Woods' injuries were not life-threatening. "It was really bad, he's very fortunate to be here," said McIlroy.
The 31-year-old from Northern Ireland, who will be grouped with 2017 PGA Championship winner Justin Thomas and American Max Homa in Thursday's opening round, said the players would remain focused on the competition.
"Of course we're all going to play a golf tournament and seem no different," said McIlroy. "It's obviously going to take a bunch of attention away from this golf tournament, but that's nothing to do with us."
(Reuters)
PGA Tour commissioner says world will rally around golf legend Tiger Woods
Jay Monahan said Tigers Woods' wellbeing, recovery and family are the only things that matter as he recovers from extensive surgery.
The 15-time major champion suffered compound fractures to his lower extremities, but was "awake, responsive and recovering" in his hospital room following his operation.
Monahan said at the World Golf Championships-Workday Championship on Wednesday: "As we wake up today, we are so thankful and so grateful to have read that statement last night and to know that he is going to be okay.
"All that really matters right now is his wellbeing, his recovery, his family.
"He knows he's got the support of everybody out here. The golf world will rally around him, the sporting world has rallied around him, the world will rally around him."
Monahan has been in contact with Woods' agent, Mark Steinberg, but said talk of how the 45-year-old's injuries will impact his career have not been discussed so soon after the accident.
What car was Tiger Woods driving?
What car was Tiger Woods driving?
Legendary golfer Tiger Woods was rescued from his car, a Genesis GV80 luxury SUV, after a crash and taken to hospital in a serious condition.
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Tiger Woods' recovering from major surgery
Tiger Woods is “awake, responsive and recovering” after undergoing emergency surgery following a car accident on Tuesday morning, according to an update posted by Woods’ camp.
The statement, released on Woods’ social channels, confirms that Woods was involved in a single-car accident this morning in Los Angeles before providing a detailed update on Woods' condition.
“Mr. Woods suffered significant orthopaedic injuries to his right lower extremity that were treated during emergency surgery by Orthopaedic trauma specialists at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, a level 1 trauma center,” said Anish Mahajan, chief medical officer and interim CEO at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, as part of the update.
“Comminuted open fractures affecting both the upper and lower portions of the tibia and fibula bones were stabilized by inserting a rod into the tibia. Additional injuries to the bones of the foot and ankle were stabilized with a combination of screws and pins. Trauma to the muscle and soft-tissue of the leg required surgical release of the covering of the muscles to relieve pressure due to swelling.”
Woods the sole occupant of the car
Reuters - Tiger Woods, one of the world's most celebrated sports figures, was the sole occupant of the car when it crashed near the suburban communities of Rolling Hills Estates and Rancho Palos Verdes, the sheriff's department said.
The vehicle veered across the center divider of the road into an opposite traffic lane, striking a roadside curb, and a tree as it careened over an embankment, and "there were several rollovers" before the SUV came to rest, Villanueva said.
Woods hosted the PGA tour's Genesis Invitational at the Riviera Country Club over the weekend but did not compete due to his back injuries. The wrecked sport utility vehicle bore the Genesis Invitational name on its doors.
He was seen at the Rolling Hills Country Club on Monday with actress Jada Pinkett Smith, retired basketball star Dwyane Wade and comedian David Spade.
Golf Digest reported Woods had been shooting a TV show segment in which he was giving on-course instruction to the three celebrities and was due to resume filming on Tuesday.
Woods held the top spot in golf's world rankings for a record total of 683 weeks, winning 14 major championship titles from 1997 to 2008. His 15 major titles stand second only to the record 18 won by Jack Nicklaus.
No immediate indication that Woods had been under the influence of alcohol
Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies responding to the wreck found no immediate indication that Woods had been under the influence of alcohol or drugs before losing control of his vehicle shortly after 7 a.m.
Sheriff Alex Villanueva, however, said the golf star, who was "lucid" following the accident, appeared to have been going faster than normal for a downhill, curving stretch of road known by locals to be hazardous. Weather was not considered a factor.
Video footage from the scene showed Woods' dark gray 2021 Genesis sport utility vehicle badly crumpled and lying on its side near the bottom of the hillside, its windows smashed.
Woods' injuries were not life-threatening, the sheriff said, but sports commentators were already speculating that the crash could end the career of the greatest golfer of his generation.
Woods is the only modern professional to win all four major golf titles in succession, taking the U.S. Open, British Open and PGA Championship in 2000 and the Masters title in 2001, a feat that became known as the 'Tiger Slam'.
But he has suffered years of injuries and undergone multiple surgeries on both his back and knees.
Police seek to determine cause of Woods' crash
Reuters - Police on Wednesday sought to determine what caused Tiger Woods to swerve off a Southern California road in his sport utility vehicle, colliding with a tree and rolling down a hillside in a crash that left the golf great seriously injured.
Woods, 45, was pried from the wreckage by rescue crews and rushed by ambulance from the scene of the Tuesday morning crash outside Los Angeles to nearby Harbor-UCLA Medical Center suffering what his agent described as "multiple leg injuries."
A statement posted on Woods' official Twitter account on Tuesday night said he had undergone a "long surgical procedure" to his lower right leg and ankle and was "awake, responsive and recovering in his hospital room."
Compound fractures of his tibia and fibula - the two bones of his leg below the knee - were stabilized with a rod, and screws and pins were used to stabilize additional injuries to his foot and ankle, Dr. Anish Mahajan, chief medical officer of Harbor-UCLA, said in the tweet.
Mahajan also said that trauma to the muscle and other soft tissue of the leg "required surgical release of the covering of the muscles to relieve pressure due to swelling".
Stretch of road where Tiger Woods crashed is notorious black spot
The section of road where Tiger Woods crashed a rented Genesis GV80 SUV is a well-known black spot where several accidents have occurred. It even features a runaway ramp to help drivers who have lost control of their vehicle and veered off the road.
Woods is believed to have crashed shortly after 7 a.m. on Hawthorne Boulevard and Blackhorse Road in Palos Verdes, Los Angeles. Footage taken moments earlier show his GV80 SUV travelling around 20 metres behind a minivan although he doesn't appear to be speeding.
The accident occurred on a curvy, steep stretch of Hawthorne Boulevard where signs warn truckers to shift into a lower gear when driving downhill, the LA Times reports. Locals say it’s very easy to pick up speed on Hawthorne Boulevard even without stepping on the accelerator.
Tiger Woods was "agitated, impatient" and almost hit another car
Oliver Konteh, a member of the TV crew filming Grown-ish in Palos Verdes, Los Angeles said he watched Tiger Woods get into his rented Genesis GV80 S.U.V. just before 7 a.m. Konteh told TMZ, "A little after 6:40 a.m. our director told us, 'You know what? I almost got in an accident because of Tiger Woods, he almost hit me'. We were just laughing it off, I didn't even believe him to be honest with you. He just said he was going fast".
According to Golf Digest, Tiger was due at Riviera Golf Course at 7:30 a.m. - however, the gold course is almost an hour's drive from Palos Verdes so Tiger must have known that he was running late.
How fast was Tiger Woods driving his car?
Legendary golfer Tiger Woods was driving a Genesis GV80 luxury SUV and was taken to hospital in a serious condition on Tuesday morning.
Tiger Woods 'awake, responsive and recovering' in hospital
Tiger Woods is "awake, responsive and recovering" following a long surgical procedure on his lower right leg and ankle after Tuesday's near-fatal car crash. The 45-year-old underwent emergency surgery at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center – where a rod was inserted into his tibia, while screws and pins were used to stabilise his foot and ankle.
Chief medical officer and interim CEO at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center Anish Mahajan explained: "Mr. Woods suffered significant orthopaedic injuries to his right lower extremity that were treated during emergency surgery by Orthopaedic trauma specialists at Harbour-UCLA Medical Center, a level one trauma center. Comminuted open fractures [a comminuted fracture is where the bone is broken into more than two pieces] affecting both the upper and lower portions of the tibia and fibula bones were stabilised by inserting a rod into the tibia.
"Additional injuries to the bones of the foot and ankle were stabilised with a combination of screws and pins. Trauma to the muscle and soft-tissue of the leg required surgical release of the covering of the muscles to relieve pressure due to the swelling."
Tiger Woods' misfortunes: operations, divorce, addiction, arrest...
Tiger Woods' misfortunes: operations, divorce, addiction, arrest...
The American golf star has been lauded for his extraordinary talent but has also received criticism for his personal problems off the golf course.
Read more:
Tiger Woods pleads guilty to reckless driving
Tiger Woods previous counts of reckless driving
In May 2017, Tiger Woods was found asleep at the wheel of his Mercedes-Benz beside the road. According to a toxicology report, he was found to have five drugs in his system, including the opioid painkiller hydrocodone, when he was arrested in Jupiter on 29 May 2017. He pleaded guilty to reckless driving bust escaped a prison sentence after reaching an agreement at Palm Beach County court.
Read the full story here:
"Hopefully Tiger can still play with his kids and have a normal life" says Rahm
Spanish golf star Jon Rahm sent his wishes for Tiger Woods to have a speedy and full recovery and hopes "he can still play with his kids and have a normal life" after the golf great's car accident.
"As if his body hasn't endured enough," Rahm said as he prepares for Thursday's WGC-Workday Championship. "Just hoping out of a bad situation, the best possible outcome, and I hope he can recover from it and we can see him on the golf course as early as possible. I know he underwent surgery early this year, so I hope he didn't damage anything he had done already. I just hope he can get out of the hospital after recovery and he can still play with his kids and have a normal life."
Tiger was returning from filming series
A joint message from Discovery, GolfTV and GolfDigest.
"He was filming his latest series with us yesterday, which will see him giving on-course instruction to a number of celebrities...
"He was due to continue filiming with us today."
TMZ share dispatch audio
In the audio, you can hear EMS workers call for surrounding roads to be blocked off. They then discuss the severity of the crash.
"We have a rollover with somebody trapped," it begins.
What are 'Jaws of Life'? The tool believed to have saved Tiger Woods?
What is the 'Jaws of Life' tool, anyway?
“Earlier it was stated that the Jaws of Life was utilized to extricate the person [Tiger Woods] trapped.
"It was later determined by our personnel that a Halligan tool, which is used for prying, and an axe was also used to pry the person free from the vehicle.”
Tiger's latest update
In the last few moments, this announcement was published on Tiger's official Twitter account.
In it Anish Mahajan, MD, states that "Mr Woods suffered significant orthopaedic injuries to his right lower extremity."
He is now "awake, responsive, and recovering in his hospital room."
Woods' crash site a noted traffic "trouble spot"
Officials noted that the location where Tiger Woods crashed is known for being an accident blackspot, with Deputy Gonzalez, the first emergency responder on the scene, noting there have been fatalities there.
Capt. James Powers, discussing the accident site said: “It’s kind of a downhill grade, and there are some winding turns, as well."
Trucks are advised by road signage to engage low gears to control their speed as they come down the incline on Hawthorne Boulevard, and there are runaway vehicle escape lanes given the gradient. The speed limit on the road is 45, but trucks are limited to 25.
Location of crash
Tiger Woods' vehicle was travelling north on Hawthorne Boulevard when it crossed the road and crashed into the kerb, then hit a tree and rolled over several times before coming to a rest.
Although in many of the photos it looks like the road is out of town, you can clearly see how built up the area actually is, and how the neighbours who called 911 were only 50 feet away from the crashed vehicle.
Mickelsen sends his best
Phil Mickelsen and Tiger Woods of course played each other in 2018's The Match, a head-to-head match play challenge, with the winner taking the full $9 million purse. Mickelsen won it after 4 play-off holes.
Extent of Wood's injuries
TIger Woods suffered a "shattered ankle and two leg fractures, one of which was compound", a source familiar with the situation told the LA Times.
Woods "lucid and calm" at scene of crash
The first official to arrive at the scene of the crash, Carlos Gonzalez, an LA sheriff's deputy, said the golfer was "lucid and calm" and that he did not "seem concerned by his injuries... which is not uncommon in traffic collisions... It's a traumatic experience, it's not uncommon for people to be focused on unimportant things or even if they are in pain they may not feel it until much later," said Gonzalez.
Tiger Woods titles: what championships has he won?
Woods' successes
Whether he's the GOAT or not, just how good Tiger was at the height of his powers was beyond belief. He's on 15 majors now, still dreaming of Jack Nicklaus' 18.
Here, Paul takes a look at his many, many wins.
Woods' crash could have been fatal
Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said the crash could have been fatal, given that the front end of the Genesis SUV was "totally destroyed", but that the "interior was more or less intact, which kind of gave him the cushion to survive what otherwise would have been a fatal crash."
It was clear from the photos of the vehicle after the crash that the airbags had deployed, and that the cabin itself had held together.
Second vehicle damaged at scene
According to officials a second vehicle was damaged at the scene of the crash, however this apparently happened when the vehicle stopped at the site and was then rear-ended. No-one was hurt.
Jaws of Life not used in Woods rescue
According to County Fire Chief Daryl Osby, Woods was freed by personnel using a tool for prying open the metal and an axe, and not the hydraulically powered 'Jaws of Life' as previously reported.
Woods not airlifted
The news conference from the LA Sheriff's Department has confirmed that Woods was not airlifted after the crash. He was taken to a local hospital, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center.
The officers confirmed the car crossed the center divide of Hawthorne Boulevard, hit the kerb, hit a tree and did "several roll-overs" before coming to rest. They would not confirm if there was evidence of reckless driving but did say the vehicle was travelling at a considerable speed. Woods was conscious when first responders arrived.
A neighbour, some 50 feet from the crash site, called 911 to report the crash.
Jaws of Life used... or not
According to the initial tweet from the LA County Sheriff's Department, Jaws of Life hydraulic rescue equipment was used to extricate Woods from the vehicle. However, other sources have now cast doubt on that claim, including Los Angeles County Sheriff's Lt. Michael White, speaking to KCAL/KCBS, who said he did not think the equipment was in fact used in the end.
Tiger Woods suffered compound fractures
Woods suffered "compound fractures in his legs" a law enforcement source has told CNN, however the injuries are not life-threatening.
Woods was conscious when officers arrived at the scene of the crash, and the LA County Fire Department confirmed he was in a "serious condition" when he reached hospital. According to his agent he underwent surgery.
Magic Johnson sends prayers to Woods
The legendary point guard on Twitter calls for prayers for Woods.
How the Jaws of Life work
The Jaws of Life that were apparently used to prise Woods from the wreckage of his Genesis GV80 are hydraulic rescue tools that cut through and separate metal - they can take the roof off a car in a minute or so with trained operators.
The basics of them is hydraulics - which involves passing a force from point to point through an incompressible fluid. Usually oil is used in hydraulic machines, but that's not a great substance to have at a crash site, so Jaws of Life tools use a phosphate-ester fluid, which is fire resistant. There's a whole lot more on how they work at HowStuffWorks.
Els express concern for "fighter" Woods
Four-time major winner Ernie Els has tweeted his best wishes to Tiger Woods in the wake of the 45-year-old’s car crash in California, writing: "Really troubling to see the accident this morning involving Tiger Woods. We’ve been friends a very long time, obviously I’m concerned for his wellbeing. He’s always been a fighter and I hope he fully recovers very soon."
Debris from Woods' car
Workers are already clearing up the accident site in Rancho Palos Verdes where Tiger Woods' vehicle left the road and rolled over.
"Tiger 'took off fast'" - TMZ report
TMZ has made the following claims over the lead-up to Tiger Woods' accident: "Tiger was staying at a hotel where a major network television show was being shot. Production sources tell TMZ, when the director arrived just before 7 AM, Tiger was driving his SUV very fast as he was leaving the property and almost hit the director's car. The director was shaken enough to tell production staff about it after he parked."
The media outlet continued in its report: "A crew member who saw Tiger as he got in his SUV at the hotel tells TMZ, once Tiger got in his vehicle, there was a delay in driving off and he appeared 'agitated and impatient.' The crew member says once the delay was over, Tiger 'took off fast.'"
Woods injuries "non-life threatening"
CBS has been told by the LA Sheriff's Department that Tiger Woods' injuries are "non-life threatening".
There are also question marks over whether or not the 'jaws of life' had to be used to extricate him from his car.
Rahm: "I couldn't believe it"
Spanish golfer Jon Rahm says he is hoping for the "best possible outcome" after Tiger Woods was hospitalised following a car accident, saying he “couldn’t believe it” when he learned the news.
"I couldn’t believe it - as if his body hasn’t endured enough," Rahm said. “I don’t know all the facts, I just know he was in an accident and he underwent surgery or he’s in the hospital or something like that.
"I’m just hoping that out of this bad situation it’s the best possible outcome and I hope he can recover from it and we can see him on the golf course as soon as possible."
What car was Tiger Woods driving?
What car was Tiger Woods driving?
Woods was driving a Genesis SUV. The only SUV that the Genesis brand currently sells is the Genesis GV80
The 2021 Genesis GV80 carries a starting price of nearly $50,000. It has a 14.5-inch horizontal touchscreen on the center console and an 8-inch digital instrument panel. It has 10 airbags, a forward-collision warning system, evasive steering technology and an interior camera that alerts the driver if they're falling asleep.
Genesis is Hyundai's upscale spinoff (like Citroen's DS or Lexus for Toyota).
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Justin Thomas: "I'm sick to my stomach"
Tiger Woods’ fellow American golfer, Justin Thomas, has said he is "sick to my stomach" in emotional remarks in the wake of the 45-year-old’s car accident, which has left him with multiple leg injuries.
“It hurts to see one of my closest friends get in an accident and I just hope he’s alright,” Thomas told reporters. “I’m just worried for his kids. I’m sure they’re struggling.”
"Tiger is in our prayers"
The PGA Tour has tweeted its reaction to Tiger Woods' car accident, saying in a statement: "On behalf of the PGA Tour and our players, Tiger is in our prayers and will have our full support as he recovers."
Trump to Woods: "Get well soon, Tiger"
Former US President Donald Trump has released a statement saying: "Get well soon, Tiger. You are a true champion!"
Masters chief reacts to Woods accident: "We pray for him"
Fred Ridley, the chairman of the Masters - a tournament Woods has won five times - has issued a statement reacting to the news that the star has been injured in a car accident.
"Tiger Woods is part of the Augusta National family, and the news of his accident is upsetting to all of us," he said. "We pray for him, for his full recovery and for his family during this difficult time."
What car was Tiger Woods driving?
Woods was driving a Genesis SUV. The only SUV that the Genesis brand currently sells is the Genesis GV80
The 2021 Genesis GV80 carries a starting price of nearly $50,000. It has a 14.5-inch horizontal touchscreen on the center console and an 8-inch digital instrument panel. It has 10 airbags, a forward-collision warning system, evasive steering technology and an interior camera that alerts the driver if they're falling asleep.
Genesis is Hyundai's upscale spinoff (like Citroen's DS or Lexus for Toyota).
LA Country sherriff to hold press conference
LA Country sheriff Alex Villanueva has announced that he is to hold a press conference in the wake of Tiger Woods' car accident at 3 pm PT.
Images of Tiger Woods' car
These images, published by the media outlet Bloomberg, show the aftermath of Woods' accident in California. His car can be seen on its side, with significant damage to its front:
Woods has suffered "multiple leg injuries"
According to a statement released by Tiger Woods’ agent, Mark Steinberg, the 45-year-old has suffered “multiple leg injuries” and is in surgery.
No other vehicle was involved in the incident. The LASD attended a "single vehicle roll-over traffic collision on the border of Rolling Hills Estates and Rancho Palos Verdes," according to officials.
Tiger Woods in hospital after California car accident: welcome
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the breaking news coming out of California: it has emerged that golf star Tiger Woods, a 15-time major winner, has been hospitalised after suffering a car accident in Los Angeles County this morning.
Woods, who had to be removed from his vehicle with the 'jaws of life', is reportedly in a serious condition.