Tiger Woods was hospitalized Tuesday, Feb. 23, with multiple leg injuries after he was involved in a single-vehicle rollover crash on the border of Rolling Hills Estates and Rancho Palos Verdes, authorities and his agent said.
Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies responded to the area of Hawthorne Boulevard and Blackhorse Road, near Peninsula High School, just before 7:15 a.m., according to a statement from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
The pro golfer was traveling northbound on Hawthorne Boulevard, downhill, when the crash occurred. It was unclear what caused the crash that left Woods’ vehicle with major damage, the department said.
A vehicle rests on its side after a rollover accident involving golfer Tiger Woods along a road in the Rancho Palos Verdes section of Los Angeles on Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021. Woods suffered leg injuries in the one-car accident and was undergoing surgery, authorities and his manager said. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Hawthorne Boulevard in Rancho Palos Verdes was closed after a single-vehicle rollover crash Tuesday morning, Feb. 23, 2021, left Tiger Woods hospitalized. The road was closed Tuesday afternoon and traffic was being diverted onto Black Horse Road. (Photo by Hunter Lee/Staff/SCNG)
Sound
The gallery will resume inseconds
Hawthorne Boulevard in Rancho Palos Verdes was closed after a single-vehicle rollover crash Tuesday morning, Feb. 23, 2021, left Tiger Woods hospitalized. The road was closed Tuesday afternoon and traffic was being diverted onto Black Horse Road. (Photo by Hunter Lee/Staff/SCNG)
In this aerial image take from video provided by KABC-TV, a vehicle rest on its side after a rollover accident involving golfer Tiger Woods along a road in the Rancho Palos Verdes section of Los Angeles on Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021. Woods had to be extricated from the vehicle with the “jaws of life” tools, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said in a statement. Woods was taken to the hospital with unspecified injuries. The vehicle sustained major damage, the sheriff’s department said. (KABC-TV via AP)
Max Homa, right, poses with his trophy next to Tiger Woods on the practice green after winning the Genesis Invitational golf tournament at Riviera Country Club, Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021, in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ryan Kang)
This Dec. 19, 2020, file photo shows Tiger Woods watching his tee shot on the first hole during the first round of the PNC Championship golf tournament in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, File)
Tiger Woods helps Masters champion Dustin Johnson with his green jacket after his victory at the Masters golf tournament Sunday, Nov. 15, 2020, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Tiger Woods hits from the 11th tee during the third round of the Zozo Championship golf tournament Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020, in Thousand Oaks, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
A vehicle rests on its side after a rollover accident involving golfer Tiger Woods along a road in the Rancho Palos Verdes section of Los Angeles on Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021. Woods suffered leg injuries in the one-car accident and was undergoing surgery, authorities and his manager said. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Tiger Woods hits from the 11th fairway during the third round of the Zozo Championship golf tournament Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020, in Thousand Oaks, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Tiger Woods hits from the 10th tee during the third round of the Zozo Championship golf tournament Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020, in Thousand Oaks, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Tiger Woods waits on the 10th green during the first round of the Zozo Championship on Thursday at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks. Woods’ 4-over-par 76 was his worst score in 49 career rounds at Sherwood and left him 12 shots out of the lead. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
A vehicle rests on its side after a rollover accident involving golfer Tiger Woods along a road in the Rancho Palos Verdes section of Los Angeles on Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021. Woods suffered leg injuries in the one-car accident and was undergoing surgery, authorities and his manager said. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
A vehicle rests on its side after a rollover accident involving golfer Tiger Woods along a road in the Rancho Palos Verdes section of Los Angeles on Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021. Woods suffered leg injuries in the one-car accident and was undergoing surgery, authorities and his manager said. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Tiger Woods was hospitalized Tuesday, Feb. 23 with multiple leg injuries after he was involved in a single-vehicle rollover crash on the border of Rolling Hills Estates and Rancho Palos Verdes. (Photo: ABC7)
Woods, who had to be helped out of the vehicle by firefighters after they removed the windshield, was the only person in the vehicle, the department said (Authorities earlier had incorrectly said the so-called “jaws of life” rescue tool was used; it was on scene but not deployed).
“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,” his agent, Mark Steinberg, said in a statement.
CBS2’s Jim Hill reported that Woods was with actor/comedian David Spade and former NBA star Dwyane Wade in the area doing a documentary for Golf Digest before he started driving down the hill.
Traffic investigators remained on scene into the afternoon to determine the cause of the crash.
The SUV was in a brushy swath off of the west side of Hawthorne Boulevard, between the roadway and homes.
Aerial images show the SUV on its side with a Genesis Invitational logo on the passenger door.
Many neighbors described the stretch of road as notorious for accidents, especially among those not from the area.
“I was just in my kitchen when I heard this loud noise,” said Irene Foster, a resident along Shady Vista Road. “I thought it was like neighbors landscaping or something.”
“It’s crazy and horrible,” Foster continued, “but that’s what happens along these windy roads. People drive fast and don’t know what’s ahead.”
It had yet to be determined if speed was a factor in the crash.
Woods had just hosted the four-day golf tournament at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades; on Sunday, he handed the trophy to the tournament’s winner, Max Homa.
He said in an interview during the final round of the Genesis Invitational that he hoped to be healthy enough to play in the Masters in April after coming off of his fifth back operation.
Woods, 45, turned professional in 1996 and has 82 PGA Tour wins in his career, including 15 major championships. But back problems and other injuries have slowed his career.
In 2009, he was involved in another high-profile crash where he struck a fire hydrant and a tree while backing out of his Florida home.
This is a breaking story. Please check back for updates.
