Doctors have revealed the grim extent of Tiger Woods' injuries, after the golfing superstar crashing his car in a Los Angeles suburb early Wednesday (NZ time) and had to be prised from the wreckage.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's department confirmed that Woods' vehicle had rolled and sustained "major damage".
He was then pulled from the vehicle with the 'jaws of life' and transported to a local hospital, where he immediately went into surgery. Police are investigating the cause of the accident.
His injuries were reported as "non life-threatening", after initially being described as "moderate to critical".
But Woods' management company TGR have since posted on Twitter, updating his condition and the medical procedures required to stabilise the golfer.
"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, a level 1 trauma centre," says hospital chief medical officer and interim chief executive Anish Mahajan.
"Comminuted open fractures affecting both the upper and lower portions of the tibia and fibula hones were stabilised by inserting a rod into the tibia. Additional injuries to the bones of the foot and ankle were stabilised with a combination of screws and pins.
"Trauma to the muscle and soft-tissue of the leg required surgical release of the covering of the muscles to relieve pressure due to swelling."
Woods' TGR management company confirmed he was "awake, responsive and recovering in his hospital room".
"We thank everyone for the overwhelming support and messages during this tough time.
"Thank you to the wonderful doctors and hospital staff at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and the Fire Department. Your support and assistance has been outstanding."
Woods has an infamous record of driving mishaps. In 2009, he crashed his car into a fire hydrant and tree, after details of his extra-marital affairs were revealed by the National Enquirer.
In 2017, Florida police arrested Woods DUI (driving under the influence) and a toxicology report detailed five drugs in his system.
But in this latest incident, Los Angeles Country Sheriff Alex Villanueva says: "Deputies at the time did not see any evidence of impairment.
"Signs of under the influence of either narcotics, medication, alcohol, order of alcohol - all these different things that would give you an idea in their behaviour, but there was none present."
