Tiger Woods doesn't remember being in California car crash, officials

Tiger Woods doesn't remember being in the rollover car crash Tuesday that shattered his right leg and resulted in the golf superstar having a rod and several screws and pins in his leg, ankle and foot, says Los Angeles County Sheriff  Alex Villanueva. 

Villanueva said Woods couldn't remember the crash nor how badly he was injured, according to an interview Villanueva gave to the Times of London.

"At the hospital, he was asked about it by the investigators and he had no recollection of the crash itself," Villanueva said.

Early reports of the Tuesday morning accident in Rancho Palos Verdes stated first-responders arrived to find Woods lucid, telling them his first name and asking that his manager collect his belongings from the badly damaged SUV.

Woods crashed after losing control of his vehicle – first crossing two lanes, then hitting a curb and tree before become trapped inside the vehicle on the side of the road.  

Woods was running late for a taping of a TV show at a golf course about an hour from where he was staying.

The 45-year-old golfer was taken to Harbor-UCLA Medical Center for emergency surgery for his right leg. The surgery included inserting a rod into his tibia, or lower leg bone, in addition to the screws and pins being inserted into his foot and ankle.

Woods is considered one of the greatest golfers in history – being tied for first in PGA Tour wins and ranked No. 2 for the number of men's Major championships. He's had at least one major knee surgery and five back operations. Doctors say the recovery process from the accident will be hard and long.

Former President Trump, who in 2019 awarded Woods the Presidential Medal of Freedom, on Fox News calling the golfer "a wonderful person."

Former Trump 2020 campaign official Jason Miller tweeted a statement from Trump saying: "Get well soon, Tiger. You are a true champion!"