Tiger Woods “Lucky To Be Alive” In Genesis GV80 Crash

Tiger Woods hit the headlines back in 2017 when he was found slumped inside a damaged Mercedes-AMG S65 after having a bad reaction from popping prescription pills for his back problems. Yesterday, the 15-time golf champion was involved in another auto accident, but this time it was more serious.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Woods has suffered serious injuries after rolling over a 2021 Genesis GV80 in California. The nasty-looking accident happened just after 7 am on February 23 at Hawthorne Boulevard. Sheriff Alex Villanueva said Woods was traveling at a “relatively greater speed than normal” down a hill, adding that the area is a notorious accident hotspot. There was no evidence that Woods was intoxicated or impaired, however, so it sounds like he was simply driving too fast and lost control.

During the horrific crash, the luxury SUV hit a center divider, smashed through a sign, and hit a tree before rolling over “several hundred feet” and landing on its side. According to the Daily Mail, Woods was found alive and conscious but unable to stand up. Damage to the SUV was so severe that Woods had to be cut free from the overturned SUV by firefighters. Woods suffered multiple injuries to his legs in the crash and is “lucky to be alive.” According to a statement posted on his Twitter page, the golf star underwent “a long surgical procedure on his lower right leg and ankle.”

“Mr. Woods suffered significant orthopaedic injuries to his right lower extremity that were treated during emergency surgery by Orthopaedic trauma specialists at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center,” the statement reads.

“Comminuted open fractures affecting both the upper and lower portions of the tibia and fibula bones were stabilized by inserting a rod into the tibia. Additional injuries to the bones of the foot and ankle were stabilized with a combination of screws and pins.” Fortunately, the golf star is said to be “awake, responsive, and recovering” in hospital.

Genesis partnered with the PGA Tour for the 2021 Genesis Invitational, which was hosted by Woods on February 18 – 21 at the Rivieria Golf Course. The GV80, which is the luxury automaker’s first-ever SUV, appears to be a courtesy car as footage from the wreckage shows the “Genesis Invitational” branding on the side.

It’s a testament to the GV80’s safety that Woods survived the horrific crash. While the exterior was extensively damaged, the interior remained mostly intact and the airbags deployed, which Villanueva said “gave him a cushion to survive the crash,” during a press conference reported by ESPN. Let’s hope Woods makes a speedy recovery.