Tiger Woods hospitalised and in surgery after being pulled from horror car crash by "jaws of life"

Golf legend Tiger Woods has been hospitalised with "multiple leg injuries" after a car crash which required him to be cut out of his overturned vehicle by "the jaws of life" in California.

His injuries were described by Los Angeles County PIO Henry Narvez as "moderate to critical", per CNN, although LA County Sheriff's Dept. told CBSN LA they were non life-threatening.

Woods was taken to Harbor-UCLA Medical Centre by ambulance and aerial images from the scene showed his SUV lying about 30 yards away from the road on its side.

Law enforcement sources speaking to the Los Angeles Times claimed the golfer was driving “at a high rate of speed and lost control of the vehicle before crossing the centre divider”. The vehicle rolled multiple times before coming to a stop.

Woods' manager, Mark Steinberg, revealed that the 45-year-old was undergoing surgery on his injuries.

Steinberg told Golf Digest: "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 incident occurred early on Tuesday morning.

Woods was in California to host the PGA Tour's Genesis Invitational over the weekend and was driving a Genesis GV80 which had been lent to him by the car company.

A statement from the LA County Sheriff's Department read: “On February 23, 2021 at approximately 7:12 AM, LASD responded to a single vehicle roll-over traffic collision on the border of Rolling Hills Estates and Rancho Palos Verdes.

“The vehicle was travelling northbound on Hawthorne Boulevard, at Blackhorse Road, when it crashed. The vehicle sustained major damage.

“The driver and sole occupant was identified as PGA golfer, Eldrick “Tiger” Woods. Mr Woods was extricated from the wreck with the “jaws of life” by the Los Angeles County firefighters and paramedics, then transported to a local hospital by ambulance for his injuries.

“The traffic investigation is being conducted by investigators from LASD Lomita Station.”

Woods, 45, spent time with Dwayne Wade and David Spade at Rolling Hills Country Club on Monday afternoon.

He recently underwent a fifth back surgery but was hoping to be fit to play in the Masters at Augusta National in April.

"I'm feeling fine - I'm a little stiff," Woods told CBS Television at the weekend.

"I have one more MRI scheduled so we'll see then if I can start doing more activities.

"I'm still in the gym, still doing the mundane stuff that you have to do for rehab; the little things where I can start gravitating toward something more.

"A lot of it is based on my surgeons, my doctors, my therapists, and making sure that I do it correctly because this is the only back I've got, so I don't know how much wiggle room we've left here."

Asked if he would be at Augusta, Woods replied: "I hope so".

Woods won his 15th major at August in the 2019 Masters, completing a remarkable comeback having had spinal fusion surgery in 2017.

He last played at the PNC Championship in December but suffered "discomfort" in his back.

He has now slipped to 48th in the world rankings after ending 2019 in sixth place.