Tiger back home following car accident
Tiger Woods has left hospital and returned home following the car crash that left the 15-time major champion with multiple leg injuries.
In the announcement across his social media feeds, Woods wrote: “Happy to report that I am back home and continuing my recovery. I am so grateful for the outpouring of support and encouragement that I have received over the past few weeks.”
He went on to thank the medical staff at the hospitals in which he was treated, before adding: “I will be recovering at home and working on getting stronger every day.”
Woods was the only person involved in the accident on February 23 when his car left the road at a notorious accident hot spot in Los Angeles.
The LA Sheriff’s Department released a short statement that read: “At approximately 7.12am, LASD responded to a single-vehicle roll-over traffic collision. The vehicle sustained major damage.
“The driver and sole occupant was identified as PGA golfer, Eldrick ‘Tiger’ Woods.”
The statement also noted that “Woods was extricated from the wreck with the ‘jaws of life’ by Los Angeles firefighters and paramedics”, though this was later rescinded by officials.
LA County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said during a press conference later on Tuesday that there was “no evidence of impairment”, before adding that the vehicle was going at “a greater speed than normal” in the 45mph zone.
Carlos Gonzalez, one of the first officers to arrive at the scene, added: “It’s very fortunate for Mr Woods to come out of this alive.”
It was later confirmed Woods would face no criminal charges for his involvement in the accident.
Injury
Explaining the injuries, Anish Mahajan, chief medical officer at the Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, said Woods “suffered significa orthopaedic injuries to his right lower extremity that were treated during emergency surgery by trauma specialists.”
He added: “Comminuted open fractures 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 swelling.”
Following the initial surgery, the Woods family released a statement that read: “He is currently awake, responsive, and recovering in his hospital room.
“Thank you to the wonderful doctors and hospital staff at Harbor UCLA Medical Center, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, and the Fire Department. Your support and assistance has been outstanding. There are no further updates at this time and we continue to thank you for your well-wishes and privacy for him and his family.”
Woods, who hasn’t played since November’s Masters after undergoing more back surgery at the end of 2020, is in California after hosting the Genesis Invitational at Riviera.
He had been pictured at a Golf Digest photoshoot on Monday with celebrities including actor David Spade and NBA star Dwayne Wade at Rolling Hills Country Club.
Woods told Jim Nantz during Sunday’s broadcast from Riviera that he was hoping to be fit in time for the Masters.
Alex Perry
Alex has been the editor of National Club Golfer since 2017. A Devonian who enjoys wittering on about his south west roots, Alex moved north to join NCG after more than a decade in London, the last five of which were with ESPN. Away from golf, Alex follows Torquay United and spends too much time playing his PlayStation or his guitar and not enough time practising his short game.
