TIGER Woods’ family worry he may get hooked on painkillers as he recovers from his horrific car crash.
A source said the golf icon, who has been in rehab, has a “deep-seated” issue with prescription drugs — and warned a “potentially huge problem” lies ahead.
Tiger, 45, suffered serious leg and ankle injuries in the crash near Los Angeles earlier this week.
Yesterday US President Barrack Obama sent “prayers” to Tiger Woods, tweeting “Sending my prayers to @TigerWoods and his family tonight—here’s to a speedy recovery for the GOAT of golf.
“If we’ve learned anything over the years, it’s to never count Tiger out.”
It comes as police officials say that the golfer won’t face criminal charges, with Deputy Carlos Gonzalez adding: “This remains an accident, an accident is not a crime, they do happen, unfortunately.”
Asked whether or not any drugs of alcohol tests were done at the scene, Gonzalez said: “The Deputy on the scene assessed the condition of Tiger Woods and there was no evidence of any impairment whatsoever.
“He was lucid – no evidence of alcohol, no evidence of any medication or narcotics.”
Follow our live blog below for the very latest news and updates on Tiger Woods’ condition…
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TIGER’S VOW
TIGER Woods vowed not to let his car crash finish his career, telling pals: “It can’t end like this.”
The stricken golf superstar, 45, insisted that if he can play again, he will.
Tiger made the pledge as his girlfriend Erica Herman, agent Mark Steinberg and caddie Joe LaCava visited him at a medical centre in Los Angeles.
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TIGER’S BATTLE
Tiger Woods “may never get his mobility back” and narrowly avoided having his leg amputated after the crash, a doctor has said.
Doctors said Woods suffered “comminuted” fractures in the upper and lower parts of the tibia and fibula – meaning the breaks had led to bone splintering.
They fitted metal rods, screws and pins to his shattered right shinbone and calf bone following the crash.
He was this morning said to be “awake, responsive and recovering in his hospital room” as footage of him emerged behind the wheel which was filmed just before the crash.
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WHAT HAVE PEOPLE SAID ABOUT WOODS’ CRASH?
Following the news of the crash, several celebrities rushed to social media to send their well wishes to the star.
The sporting icon’s ex-girlfriend, Lindsey Vonn, tweeted: “Praying for TW right now.”
Donald Trump’s adviser, Jason Miller, revealed the former president made the following statement: “Get well soon, Tiger. You are a true champion!”
Alex Rodriguez, a former MLB player best known as also known as A-Rod, also took to Twitter after news broke about Woods’ accident.
He tweeted: “Praying for my brother @TigerWoods as we all anxiously await more news. Thinking of him and his entire family.”
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EXPLAINER – HOW IS WOODS’ CONDITION?
Woods was rushed to hospital after emergency service crews pulled the star from the wreckage. It’s currently unknown what condition Woods is in.
Los Angeles County Fire Department Chief Daryl Osby said a pry bar and axe were used to extract Woods from the vehicle.
The fire chief said that responders found “no evidence of impairment” but that signs of narcotics use, alcohol and other substances would be subject to an investigation.
Osby said Woods was conscious and “able to communicate.”
The star’s agent, Mark Steinberg, said in a statement: “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.”
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EXPLAINER – WHEN WAS WOODS’ CAR CRASH?
The crash occurred at 7.12am on February 23, 2021.
In a statement, authorities said that “the traffic investigation is being conducted by investigators from LASD Lomita Station.”
Woods was alone in the car when it crashed and no other vehicles were involved, authorities said.
Woods was reportedly in the area for his annual Genesis Invitational golf tournament at the Riviera Country Club in the Pacific Palisades.
Leading up to the accident, Woods announced his fifth, most recent back surgery could keep him out of the upcoming Masters Tournament in Augusta, Georgia.
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EXPLAINER – WHAT CAR WAS TIGER WOODS DRIVING AT THE TIME OF HIS CRASH?
Woods was driving a Genesis GV80 at the time of his crash, a car being promoted by the golf tournament he was playing in the weekend prior to the incident.
A representative for Genesis released a statement expressing their sympathies for Woods’ accident.
“This morning, Genesis was saddened to learn that Tiger Woods had been in an accident in a GV80. Our thoughts and prayers are with Tiger and his family at this time,” they said to Motor1.com.
According to a 911 dispatch call, obtained by The Sun, Woods was trapped in the vehicle which was “off the side of the road.”
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PICTURED
The golf star’s car was left shattered on the side of the road in LA following the horrific crash.
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‘I’LL BE BACK’
Tiger Woods vowed not to let his car crash finish his career, telling pals: “It can’t end like this.”
The stricken golf superstar, 45, insisted that if he can play again, he will.
Tiger made the pledge as his girlfriend Erica Herman, agent Mark Steinberg and caddie Joe LaCava visited him at a medical centre in Los Angeles.
Cops said Tiger has “no recollection” of the crash which left him facing months of rehab after having a metal rod, pins and screws inserted into his right leg and shattered ankle.
A source close to Tiger said the ace was “frustrated” and told People magazine: “He doesn’t want his career to end like this.
“If there’s any way at all he can continue playing, he will.”
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‘DON’T COUNT HIM OUT’
Tiger Woods’ family do not know if he will ever play golf again, but the star is “mentally tough,” “will listen to his doctors” and “fight for his career” after cheating death in a car smash, a friend has exclusively told The Sun.
Tiger was said to be “awake, responsive and recovering” with his loved ones by his bedside after shattering his right leg, but he has a long road ahead and is looking at months of recovery.
Pete McDaniel, a close friend who has spoken to his mother Tida since the crash during a tearful phone call, said the family are “relieved more than anything else,” but the future is still uncertain.
“She [Tida] gave me a little bit of information as to how he’s doing and that eased my fears,” he told The Sun exclusively. “I think she was at home still in Florida.
“It wasn’t as bad as it could have been. Once I found that out then I was okay … I didn’t ask any other questions and she didn’t offer anything else.”
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OUTLINE OF CAR CRASH
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MOM’S RELIEF
Tiger Woods’ mother in an emotional phone call told the golf star’s friend that her son would survive the crash and hold loved ones once again.
Kutilda “Tida” Woods offered the positive outlook on her son’s condition to veteran golf writer and best-selling author Pete McDaniel.
McDaniel shared details on the call in the African American Golfer’s Digest on Wednesday, a day after Tiger Woods was involved in a high-speed single-vehicle crash near Los Angeles and suffered a shattered ankle and two leg fractures.
The golf writer wrote that he panicked when he saw the news of the crash and “decided to take a chance and call Tiger’s mom.”
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TIGER DIDN’T HAVE TIME TO ‘FULLY ASSESS HIS INJURIES’
Deputy Sheriff Carlos Gonzalez was first on the scene.
He told Today on Wednesday morning that he did not recognize the famous golfer when he arrived, and that he just saw ‘eyes’ when he peered through the window.
“I don’t think he was aware of how gravely he was injured at the time. It could be a mixture of adrenaline, it could’ve been shock.
“Again it was very quick, the moment that I arrived from the moment that he rolled over, so I don’t know if he had time to fully assess his injuries,” he said
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CONTINUED
They fitted metal rods, screws and pins to his shattered right shinbone and calf bone following the crash.
But foot and ankle specialist Nick Cullen, of the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust in London, today warned there is a strong chance the golf ace may never play professionally again.
He told the Daily Telegraph: “It’s a very serious injury. It’s serious because the bone’s been broken in multiple levels and has broken through the skin. The break has gone into the ankle, so it affects the joints of the ankle as well.
“This would probably be classified as a limb-threatening injury.
“I don’t think you’d be talking about amputating this immediately but that’s the potential.”
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CAREER OVER
Tiger Woods has less than a 50 per cent chance of ever playing golf again following his horror car crash, a medical expert has claimed.
The golf ace, 45, suffered gruesome injuries to his leg after the devastating crash on Tuesday morning in Los Angeles.
Woods was pulled from the wreckage of an SUV he was driving on the border of Rolling Hills Estates and Rancho Palos Verdes before being transferred to hospital by paramedics.
Doctors said he suffered “comminuted” fractures in the upper and lower parts of the tibia and fibula – meaning the breaks had led to bone splintering.
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NO TEST FOR TIGER
Tiger Woods was not tested for drugs and alcohol following his horror car crash, it has been revealed.
The golf ace was hauled from the wreckage of an SUV he was driving before being rushed to hospital by paramedics in Los Angeles.
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CONTINUED
“They go to the temple every year and she basically has his fortune told, and she believes in it, she’s a woman of faith.
“His fans, his family for sure, we’re all just very relieved that he didn’t turn out to have life-threatening injuries. That was the biggest concern, no one is ready to lose him.
“We all have our time. but obviously it was not his time, so I’m grateful for that.”
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‘DON’T COUNT HIM OUT
Tiger Woods’ family do not know if he will ever play golf again, but the star is “mentally tough,” “will listen to his doctors” and “fight for his career” after cheating death in a car smash, a friend has exclusively told The Sun.
Pete McDaniel, a close friend who has spoken to his mother Tida since the crash during a tearful phone call, said the family are “relieved more than anything else,” but the future is still uncertain.
“She [Tida] gave me a little bit of information as to how he’s doing and that eased my fears,” he told The Sun exclusively. “I think she was at home still in Florida.
“It wasn’t as bad as it could have been. Once I found that out then I was okay … I didn’t ask any other questions and she didn’t offer anything else.”
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THE EXTENT OF TIGER WOOD’S INJURIES
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CONTINUED
Following the horrific crash, law enforcement officers have dismissed any suggestion that he had alcohol or drugs in his system at the time of the incident.
Police sources told TMZ that there were no drugs or alcohol inside Tiger’s GV80 at the time – and he showed no signs of impairment as he was pulled out of the wreckage.
In order to draw blood to check if he was under the influence, cops would need a warrant – meaning they would require a probably cause.
With no evidence suggesting impairment, police are not able to authorise such a move.
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HERE ‘S WHY TIGER WOODS WAS NOT TESTED FOR DRUGS & ALCOHOL AFTER HIS HORROR CRASH
Tiger Woods was not tested for drugs and alcohol following his horror car crash, it has been revealed.
The golf ace was hauled from the wreckage of an SUV he was driving before being rushed to hospital by paramedics in Los Angeles.
He had emergency surgery on Tuesday night after firefighters had to cut him from the wreckage at an accident hotspot in Rancho Palos Verdes shortly after 7.15am that morning.
Woods reportedly hit a raised central reservation at “speed”, smashed through a street sign, hit a tree and then flipped a $50,000 Genesis GV80 SUV several times.
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UNCLEAR WHEN HE WILL GET OUT OF HOSPITAL
Woods’ girlfriend Erica Herman was pictured visiting him in the hospital on Wednesday along with his caddie Joe LaCava.
It’s unclear when he will be released from the hospital, or if his children and ex-wife are there.
Authorities say they do plan to pull the car’s black box to find out more and that he was pulled out of a windshield.
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TIGER DIDN’T HAVE TIME TO ‘FULLY ASSESS HIS INJURIES’
Deputy Sheriff Carlos Gonzalez was first on the scene.
He told Today on Wednesday morning that he did not recognize the famous golfer when he arrived, and that he just saw ‘eyes’ when he peered through the window.
“I don’t think he was aware of how gravely he was injured at the time. It could be a mixture of adrenaline, it could’ve been shock.
“Again it was very quick, the moment that I arrived from the moment that he rolled over, so I don’t know if he had time to fully assess his injuries,” he said
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NO ALCOHOL FOUND
Sheriff’s Deputy Carlos Gonzalez, who was first on the scene, had confirmed: “At the scene, we’re looking for evidence of intoxication like if there’s an odor of an alcoholic beverage or there’s an open container or prescription medication.
“At this time we didn’t see any evidence of impairment and anything beyond that in terms of the medical toxicology, I wouldn’t be aware at this time.”
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CRASH PICTURES
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‘HE ALMOST HIT ME’
Oliver Konteh, a member of the crew working on TV show ‘Grown-ish’ at the hotel, told how its director reported that Woods almost hit his car at 6.40am local time.
Mr Konteh said: “He was like ‘you know what – I almost got in an accident from f***ing Tiger Woods. He almost hit me’. He said he (Woods) was going fast.”
Mr Konteh said Woods was blocked for a short time by another vehicle that was unloading luggage and by the time he left he looked “agitated and impatient”.
Minutes later, his Genesis GV80 4×4 — which can go from 0 to 60 mph in 6.4 seconds — careered off a winding road, across the opposite carriageway and crashed into a hillside.