Tiger Woods in hospital after serious crash, sports world reacts

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“Sick to my stomach … I just hope he’s all right,” said a visibly shaken-up Justin Thomas, one of Woods’ best friends on the PGA Tour.

Tiger Woods’ condition is unclear after the iconic golfer was hospitalized following a serious single car accident in Los Angeles on Tuesday morning.

Shortly after 7 a.m. local time, emergency personnel arrived on the scene where firefighters extricated Woods from the heavily-damaged vehicle following a rollover, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

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“Tiger Woods was in a single-car accident this morning in California where he suffered multiple leg injuries,” Woods’ agent Mark Steinberg said on Tuesday afternoon. “He is currently in surgery and we thank you for your privacy and support.”

Woods was in California on the weekend to host the PGA Tour’s Genesis Invitational, but was not in the tournament field as he was recovering from his fifth back surgery.

Golf great Jack Nicklaus posted a message on social media: “Barbara and I just heard about Tiger’s accident, and like everyone else, we are deeply concerned. We want to offer him our heartfelt support and prayers at this difficult time.”

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Overhead footage of the accident scene appears to show a lengthy trail of skid marks and damage that crosses a grassy median and leads off the road to Woods’ vehicle, on its side, and with airbags deployed and severe front-end damage.

“Praying for TW right now,” tweeted skier Lindsey Vonn, Woods’ ex-girlfriend.

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The 15-time major champion appeared on the CBS golf broadcast on Sunday, speaking to host Jim Nantz who asked Woods whether he would be ready to play in the upcoming Masters Tournament in April.

“God I hope so,” Woods said. “I gotta get there first. A lot of it is based on what my surgeons and my doctors and my therapists say, make sure that I do things correctly. Because this is the only back I’ve got, so I don’t have much more wiggle room left here.”

Woods has a long history of injury, including five back surgeries and five knee surgeries. His career looked doomed before he risked his career and underwent a disc fusion in his lower back in 2017. In what is considered one of the greatest comebacks in sports history, Woods won the 2019 Masters title, his fifth green jacket.

Off the course, Woods has also endured plenty of pain, some of it self-inflicted. In 2009, he was found semi-conscious and bleeding outside his Florida home after his car hit a fire hydrant. That incident led to revelations about extra-marital affairs. In 2010, he and wife Elin Nordegren filed for divorce. In 2017, Woods, who had fallen outside the top-1000 players in golf’s world rankings, was charged with driving under the influence after failing roadside sobriety tests when he was found asleep in his running car. Toxicology tests found several pain medications, including Vicodin, in his system. He then entered a clinic to get help with his reliance on pain medications and a sleep disorder.

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Since that time much of the news surrounding Woods has been very different. Healthy and successful, Woods was enjoying a renaissance on and off the course. His relationships with the next generation of golfers is very strong, and his public relationship with son Charlie is one of a doting father and loving son. The pair stole the show last December at the father-and-son PNC Championship, where Charlie Woods looked every bit a mini-version of his famous father, and the pair came in seventh place.

This softer side and a renewed success on the course have offered many great answers about the golfer.

Now, we wait and hope for Tiger the man, and a future once again in question.