Tiger Woods was “awake, responding and recovering in his hospital room” after a stick was put in his leg during surgery after a car accident in the Los Angeles area, his team said in a statement Tuesday night.
Woods, 45, “sustained significant orthopedic injuries to his right lower limb” treated in emergency surgeries, said Anish Mahajan, chief medical officer and interim chief executive of Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, in a statement on Woods’ account. tweeted. .
The bar 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 on the border of Rolling Hills Estates and Rancho Palos Verdes at 7:12 a.m., the sheriff’s department in Los Angeles said earlier Tuesday.
He was conscious and in a stable condition when he was pulled out of the car, Los Angeles Fire Chief Daryl Osby said at a news conference earlier Tuesday.
The statement Tuesday night, signed by TGR, the organization founded by Woods, said the athlete underwent a lengthy operation on his right lower leg and ankle.
“We thank everyone for the overwhelming support and messages during this difficult time,” the statement said.
Rancho Palos Verdes is in the Los Angeles area, but technically outside the city, south of Torrance and west of Long Beach.
The cause of the accident on Tuesday is being investigated, Sheriff Alex Villanueva said.
Deputies saw no signs of weakening when they arrived on the scene, Villanueva said.
The sheriff did say that accidents in the area are not uncommon due to the descents and curves on the road. Woods was the only person in the sports utility vehicle. He was wearing a seat belt, said one of the first deputies at the scene.
Woods is considered one of the greatest golfers in the history of the sport. His 82 tournaments win the most in a career with Sam Snead, and his 15 majors are second to Jack Nicklaus.
