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Tiger Woods Recovering At Hospital After Significant Injuries Suffered In Rollover Car Crash

A tow truck recovers the vehicle driven by golfer Tiger Woods in Rancho Palos Verdes after a rollover accident. (Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images)

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Shortly after 7 a.m. today, professional golfer Tiger Woods was injured in a rollover car crash and had to be extricated from his vehicle.

The collision occurred on the border of Rolling Hills Estates and Rancho Palos Verdes. Woods was traveling northbound on Hawthorne Boulevard at Blackhorse Road when the crash happened, according to a tweet from the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department.

It was a single-car crash. No other vehicles were involved. Woods' vehicle reportedly sustained major damage.

Woods, 45, suffered multiple leg injuries, according to a statement issued by his agent, Mark Steinberg. He was transported to a local hospital where he is being treated. His injuries were decribed by an L.A. County spokesperson as "moderate to critical."

The golf star was in the area to host the PGA Tour's Genesis Invitational, held this past weekend, and to shoot some footage for GOLFTV, according to Golf Digest.

On Monday, Woods spent time on the golf course with former Miami Heat basketball star Dwyane Wade and with comedian David Spade.

The LASD's Lomita Station is investigating the crash.

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UPDATE 4 p.m.:

Authorities say Woods was conscious when firefighters reached him, after the car rolled over.

They had to pry him out from the wreckage using a specialized tool and an axe (but not the so-called "jaws of life," as was reported earlier by authorities).

Woods is still receiving treatment at Harbor-UCLA Hospital, though he is expected to survive.

Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva says the vehicle crossed the center divider and ended up several hundred feet away from the road, though there were no skid marks on the road itself:

"Obviously, that indicates they were going at a relatively greater speed than normal. However, because it is downhill, it slopes, and it also it curves, that area has a high frequency of accidents, it's not uncommon."

The exact cause of the crash is still under investigation, though Villanueva and fire officials say there weren't any signs Woods was impaired at the time. First responders at the scene confirmed that he was wearing a seatbelt, which may have saved his life.
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UPDATE 10:30 p.m.:

In a Tweet sent on Woods' account, the injury to his right leg is described as significant and requiring emergency surgery.

As of 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Woods was "awake, responsive and recovering in his hotel room."

This story was originally published at 11:50 a.m. and updated as more information became available.

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