by On Tuesday, February 23, pro-golfer Tiger Woods suffered from massive injuries following a car accident in Los Angeles and had to be extricated from the jaws of death by firemen. He was hospitalised immediately and is currently recovering, albeit speedily and gearing up for making a triumphant return back into the golf course. Here’s everything you need to know about the current world no. 2 in Men’s golf championship.
According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the incident took place on the border of Rolling Hills Estates and Rancho Palos Verdes where Tiger Woods was driving through around 7 in the morning. Just one day earlier, the golfer had been to California for his annual Genesis Invitational golf tournament at the Riviera Country Club in the Pacific Palisades. He had met Dwyane Wade and David Spade there and given them a hands on lesson on how to play the sport, recorded by Golf TV and Golf Digest. The police and the fire brigade appeared at the scene almost immediately to find Woods in a semi-conscious state, indicating he wasn’t under the influence of alcohol or any other form of intoxication.
In an press interview, the Deputy sheriff at Los Angeles County Alex Villanueva explained and addressed the speculations regarding the accident. Woods was probably going a bit past the speed limit when the car skidded and hit the curb and the tree on an opposing lane after striking the centre median and got rolled over multiple times. As a result the car was severely damaged and stuck between the tree and the curb, trapping the player within in a bloody mess and mangled car parts. Villanueva however dismissed all possibilities of Woods facing charges for reckless driving, stating it was a grave and unfortunate accident only, not a crime. The player had to extracted from the scene with the help of the firemen who axed their way into the entrapment.
Woods was immediately rushed to Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles where he was diagnosed with a shattered ankle and two leg fractures and multiple cuts but no major internal trauma or bleeding. He was apparently calm when the rescue operation arrived at the scene, complying quite gentlemanly with the protocols and police investigation. He had to undergo a lengthy and strenuous operation for his lower ankle and released a tweet from his official handle on Tuesday night . He thanked the fans and well wishers for their support and blessings and gave a brief update about his health and recovery.
Post surgery Woods was shifted to the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in L.A. under orthopedic care and recovery wing on Thursday, February 25. He was released from hospital after almost a month on March 16 and advised complete rest for his recovering ankle with occasional physiotherapy sessions. In June 2021, the fifteen times golf champion appeared for his first public interview post accident and revealed how his recovery road has been slow, painful and agonizing, thereby putting a big question mark on his return to the golf course.
Further investigations into the scene of accident revealed that Woods was driving quite beyond the speed limit and there has been no evidence of him putting his foot off the accelerator or pressing the brakes when the car hit the curb and rolled over. Lomita Sheriff’s Captain James Powers revealed, “The cause of the collision was the speed and inability to maintain the roadway.”
Tiger thanked the “incredible team of doctors and nurses” who helped him get off on the right foot but denied from making any further comments on his return to the golf championships in the aftermath of the accident. He had several surgeries on his right leg, and after his second surgery, healing was much more difficult.
However in November 21, after almost 8 months or so, he shared a picture of himself in golf clothes trying his hand out at one of the tees. The three seconds long clip of himself showed the player in leg braces swinging his golf club indicating he’s back at the game. Finally in December 2021, he made a public statement on Twitter that he’s looking forward to participating in the PNC golf championships for the upcoming season.
“Although it’s been a long and challenging year, I am very excited to close it out by competing in the @PNCchampionship with my son Charlie. I’m playing as a Dad and couldn’t be more excited and proud.”
