Car crash: Tiger Woods ‘awake, recovering’ after surgery

Tiger Woods, American golf legend, has successfully undergone surgery on his right leg and is currently “awake, responsive and recovering” in hospital.

On Tuesday evening, the 45-year-old was involved in a car crash in Los Angeles.

He was alone in his 2021 Genesis GV80 SUV when it veered off the road in what appeared to be a one-vehicle crash near the border of Rolling Hills Estates and Rancho Palos Verdes.

It is understood that fire crews had to use the “jaws of life” to rescue the 15-time golf major winner from his car after it rolled over and suffered major damage.

In a statement shared on his Twitter page on Wednesday, Anish Mahajan, chief medical officer of the Harbor UCLA Medical Centre where Woods is being treated, said the golf legend suffered open fractures to his right foot bones that required screws and pins to stabilize.

The doctor added that the open fractures were comminuted, meaning broken in more than two pieces.

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— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) February 24, 2021

“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. Comminuted open fractures affecting both the upper and lower portions of the right 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,” the statement read.

“Trauma to the muscle and soft tissue of the leg required the surgical release of the covering of the muscles to relieve pressure due to swelling.”

The statement further thanked the hospital staff and his rescuers while mentioning that the golf icon is currently “awake, responsive and recovering.”

“He is currently awake, responsive, and recovering in his hospital room. Thank you to the wonderful doctors and hospital staff at the Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, and the Fire Department. Your support and assistance has been outstanding,” the statement added.

“There are no further updates at this time and we continue to thank you for well-wishes and privacy for him and his family.”

Woods was on his way to a media engagement at Rolling Hills Country Club where he advises celebrity golfers when the crash happened.