Professional golfer Tiger Woods suffered serious injuries after a rollover car crash near Los Angeles on Tuesday, Feb. 23. After news of the crash hit the media the world grew anxious to know more about the golf legend’s condition. 

    Woods, 45, was awake and responsive after receiving lengthy surgical care at the Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, stated early Wednesday on his Twitter account. 

The single-vehicle accident occurred shortly after 7 a.m. when the SUV hit a curb and a tree and landed on its side off the roadway in the brush. Woods was driving downhill on a winding road in an area with a reputation for accidents. His estimated speed remains unknown currently. 

   After the crash Woods needed to be extricated from his vehicle with a pry bar and an ax by a rescue crew. He was taken by an ambulance to the Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in serious condition with non-life-threatening injuries, according to the LA County Fire Department.

   At the hospital, he underwent emergency surgery on both his lower right leg and ankle, also stated on his Twitter account. 

   His leg fractures were “comminuted,” meaning the bone was broken into more than two parts. The broken bone was also exposed to open air, creating a risk of infection, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Anish Mahajan said in the statement to the public regarding Wood’s injuries. 

   During surgery, a rod was inserted into his tibia to stabilize both the tibia and fibula bones. The foot and ankle bones were stabilized using both screws and pins. Orthopedic trauma specialists also helped relieve pressure to the muscle and soft tissue of his leg by surgically releasing the covering of the muscle, Mahajan said.

   5 days after the accident, Woods broke his silence. He stated it was very touching to see all the support from his fans. Many professional golfers wore red and black shirts in support of Tiger Woods, who is known to wear these colors, “It is hard to explain how touching today was when I turned on the TV and saw all the red shirts,” Woods’s account tweeted.

   The media has come together to support Tiger Woods on his road to recovery. He tweeted, “To every golfer and every fan, you are truly helping me get through this tough time.” He is very grateful for the support during this hard time.