Sports world reacts after Tiger Woods injured in rollover crash
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By Bob D'Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
LOS ANGELES COUNTY, Calif. — The sports world reacted with shock, concern and support after learning about Tiger Woods’ injury on Tuesday morning in a rollover, single-vehicle crash in California.
Woods, who was the only person involved in the incident, was driving northbound in his 2021 Genesis GV80 SUV when the crash occurred at about 7:12 a.m., authorities said.
Photos: Tiger Woods seriously injured in single-vehicle crash A crane is used to lift a vehicle following a rollover accident involving golfer Tiger Woods, Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021, in the Rancho Palos Verdes suburb of Los Angeles. Woods suffered leg injuries in the one-car accident and was undergoing surgery, authorities and his manager said. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Photos: Tiger Woods seriously injured in single-vehicle crash In this aerial image take from video provided by KABC-TV video, a vehicle rest on its side after a rollover accident involving golfer Tiger Woods along a road in the Rancho Palos Verdes suburb 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)
Photos: Tiger Woods seriously injured in single-vehicle crash A law enforcement officer looks over a damaged vehicle following a rollover accident involving golfer Tiger Woods, Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021, in the Rancho Palos Verdes suburb of Los Angeles. Woods suffered leg injuries in the one-car accident and was undergoing surgery, authorities and his manager said. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Photos: Tiger Woods seriously injured in single-vehicle crash A law enforcement officer looks over a damaged vehicle following a rollover accident involving golfer Tiger Woods, Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021, in the Rancho Palos Verdes suburb of Los Angeles. Woods suffered leg injuries in the one-car accident and was undergoing surgery, authorities and his manager said. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Photos: Tiger Woods seriously injured in single-vehicle crash A vehicle rests on its side after a rollover accident involving golfer Tiger Woods along a road in the Rancho Palos Verdes suburb 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)
Photos: Tiger Woods seriously injured in single-vehicle crash A crane is used to lift a vehicle following a rollover accident involving golfer Tiger Woods, Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021, in Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., a suburb of Los Angeles. Woods suffered leg injuries in the one-car accident and was undergoing surgery, authorities and his manager said. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Photos: Tiger Woods seriously injured in single-vehicle crash A vehicle rests on its side after a rollover accident involving golfer Tiger Woods along a road in the Rancho Palos Verdes suburb 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)
Photos: Tiger Woods seriously injured in single-vehicle crash A vehicle rests on its side after a rollover accident involving golfer Tiger Woods along a road in the Rancho Palos Verdes suburb 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)
Photos: Tiger Woods seriously injured in single-vehicle crash Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputy Carlos Gonzalez speaks Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021, during a news conference at the Lomita sheriff's station in Lomita, Calif., about the Tiger Woods crash. Gonzalez said the road is a trouble spot for traffic accidents and speed, he's seen fatal collisions there. He said Woods is lucky to be alive. (AP Photo/Stefanie Dazio)
Photos: Tiger Woods seriously injured in single-vehicle crash A vehicle rests on its side after a rollover accident involving golfer Tiger Woods Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021, in Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., a suburb of Los Angeles. Woods suffered leg injuries in the one-car accident and was undergoing surgery, authorities and his manager said. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Photos: Tiger Woods seriously injured in single-vehicle crash A worker moves debris after a rollover accident involving golfer Tiger Woods Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021, in Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., a suburb of Los Angeles. Woods suffered leg injuries in the one-car accident and was undergoing surgery, authorities and his manager said. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Photos: Tiger Woods seriously injured in single-vehicle crash A vehicle rests on its side after a rollover accident involving golfer Tiger Woods Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021, in the Rancho Palos Verdes suburb of Los Angeles. Woods suffered leg injuries in the one-car accident and was undergoing surgery, authorities and his manager said. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
“Sick to my stomach right now,” tweeted Justin Thomas, the world’s third-ranked golfer. “Praying for @TigerWoods and hoping for an amazing recovery.”
Woods, 45, has won 15 major golf tournaments, putting him second behind Jack Nicklaus, who won 18. Woods won the Masters five times, including in 2019. He also has four PGA Championship titles, three U.S. Open Championships and three British Open Championships.
Woods’ 82 PGA Tour victories ties him with Sam Snead atop the tour’s all-time list.
Nicklaus went on Twitter to wish Woods a “successful surgery,” adding that he and his wife Barbara were “deeply concerned.”
“We want to offer him our heartfelt support and prayers at this difficult time,” Nicklaus tweeted.
Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry tweeted, “Heal up quickly,” and offered prayers to Woods and his family.
“God is in control always,” Curry tweeted. “Stay strong.”
Woods also received well wishes in tweets from Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield, former Los Angeles Lakers great Magic Johnson and former boxing heavyweight champion Mike Tyson.
Despite five back surgeries, Woods was hoping to make a return to the Masters this year at Augusta National in Georgia.
Woods’ charisma, particularly at golf’s majors, has resonated with his fellow golfers.
“It’s a different atmosphere at an event when Tiger is playing than when he’s not playing, and he’s that big, no matter even if the best 20 players in the world are playing,” Jon Rahm said during an interview with the Golf Channel. “If he’s not there, you can tell a difference.”
Phil Mickelson, who has dueled Woods on the golf course and has won five majors titles and has 44 victories on the PGA Tour, tweeted, “We are all pulling for you, Tiger. We are so sorry that you and your family are going through this tough time. Everyone hopes and prays for your full and speedy recovery.”
“We know how tough you are, we’ve seen it a hundred times,” PGA Tour player Justin Rose tweeted.
Former New York Yankees star Alex Rodriguez tweeted he was “praying for my brother” and “thinking of him and his entire family.”
Lindsey Vonn, the Olympic gold medalist skier who had dated Woods, tweeted a similar message.