Tiger Woods was “awake, reactive and recovering in his hospital room” after having a rod placed on his leg during surgery after an overturning car accident in the Los Angeles area, his team said in a statement on Tuesday at night.
Woods, 45, “suffered significant orthopedic injuries to his right lower extremity” that were treated in emergency surgery, Anish Mahajan, medical director and interim CEO at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, said in the statement, which was tweeted on Woods’ account. .
The nail was inserted into his tibia to stabilize fractures, and screws and pins were used to stabilize injuries to the foot and ankle, according to the statement.
Woods’ Genesis GV80 crashed at 7:12 am PST on the border of Rolling Hills Estates and Rancho Palos Verdes, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said on Tuesday.
He was conscious and in a stable condition when he was pulled out of the car, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Daryl Osby said at a news conference on Tuesday.
Tuesday’s statement, which was signed by TGR – an organization founded by Woods, said the athlete had undergone a long surgical procedure on his right leg and ankle.
“We thank everyone for their support and overwhelming messages during this difficult time,” said the statement.
Rancho Palos Verdes is in the Los Angeles area, but technically out of town, south of Torrance and west of Long Beach.
The cause of Tuesday’s accident is under investigation, said sheriff Alex Villanueva.
The deputies saw no sign of compromise when they arrived at the site, Villanueva said.
The sheriff said accidents in that area are not uncommon because of the slopes and curves of the road. Woods was the only person in the SUV. He was wearing a seat belt, said one of the first police officers at the scene.
Woods is considered one of the greatest golfers in the history of the sport. His 82 tournament wins are tied for most in a career with Sam Snead, and his 15 majors are second only to Jack Nicklaus.
