Tiger Woods in surgery after suffering 'multiple leg injuries' in car wreck

Golfer Tiger Woods was injured in a serious car crash in the Los Angeles area on Tuesday morning, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

The department said in a statement that Woods "was extricated from the wreck with the 'jaws of life' by Los Angeles County firefighters and paramedics" before being transported to a local hospital.

Woods, a Jupiter Island resident, was the lone occupant of the car when it crashed in the Ranchos Palos Verdes. Woods, 45, was at Riviera Country Club over the weekend as host of the Genesis Invitational but was out of the field due to recent back surgery.

Woods' agent Mark Steinberg sent out a statement on the crash: "Tiger Woods was in a single-car accident this morning in California where he suffered multiple leg injuries. He is currently in surgery and we thank you for your privacy and support."

The single-car rollover crash took place at just after 7 a.m. PT, and Woods’ vehicle sustained major damage, according to the report.

After being pulled from the vehicle by the Jaws of Life, Woods was taken to a local hospital.

Video of the crash on CNN showed Woods’ car badly mangled approximately 20 feet off the road. The entire front end of the car was destroyed. Several pieces of the vehicle had broken off and was to the side.

"We have been made aware of Tiger Woods' car accident today," PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan said in a statement. "We are awaiting further information when he comes out of surgery. On behalf of the PGA TOUR and our players, Tiger is in our prayers and will have our full support as he recovers."

Tour players at this week’s WGC-Workday Championship were stunned by the news, including Justin Thomas.

Woods has had a myriad of health concerns in recent years, including four surgeries on his left knee, microdiscectomy surgery on his back in March 2014, then two similar procedures in the fall of 2015. In April of 2017, he had an anterior lumbar interbody fusion surgery.

According to reports, Woods was heading to the second day of a photo/video shoot giving lessons to celebrities. On Monday, he shot a segment with NBA star Dwyane Wade.

“I’m sick to my stomach,” said an emotional Thomas, who teared up as he spoke. “You know, it hurts to see one of your — now one of my closest friends get in an accident. Man, I just hope he’s all right. Just worry for his kids, you know. I’m sure they’re struggling.”

This isn’t the first time Woods has been in a car accident. On Nov. 27, 2009, at about 2:30 a.m. outside of his former Florida home, his car hit several hedges, a fire hydrant and then came to rest after hitting a tree.

Woods was driving a 2009 black Cadillac Escalade. At the time Daniel Saylor, the Windermere chief of police, told the Associated Press that police found Woods outside of the vehicle with his wife, Elin, nearby.

The accident happened several days after the tabloid publication, the National Enquirer, published a story saying Woods was having an affair. Not long after the accident, and the story, Woods would confess to living a secret life and having multiple affairs.