Tiger Woods was injured in a Los Angeles-area car crash and needed to be pulled from his vehicle on Tuesday morning.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s office released a statement that Woods was injured in a crash in Rancho Palos Verdes on Hawthorne Boulevard. Woods, 45, was at Riviera Country Club over the weekend as host of the Genesis Invitational, but was out of the field due to a recent back surgery.

The single-car rollover crash took place at just after 7 a.m. PT, and Woods’ vehicle sustained major damage, according to the report. After being pulled from the vehicle, Woods was taken to Harbor-UCLA Medical Center.

His agent, Mark Steinberg, sent out the following 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.”

Tiger’s wreck: Maps, updates, and location of crash site

During a press conference at 6 p.m. ET, officials said Woods was conscious when first responders arrived on the scene, there were no signs of impairment and he was wearing a seat belt during the crash. He was unable to stand, and contrary to a prior statement from the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department, was pried out with an axe and not the Jaws of Life. He left the scene on a backboard, with the L.A. County Sheriff saying Woods was “lucky to be alive.”

According to a report in the L.A. Times, Woods injuries included a shattered ankle and two leg fractures, one of which was compound.

Video on CNN showed Woods’ car badly mangled approximately 20 feet off the road. The entire front end of the car was destroyed. Several pieces of the vehicle had broken off and was to the side.

“We have been made aware of Tiger Woods’ car accident today. We are awaiting further information when he comes out of surgery. On behalf of the PGA Tour and our players, Tiger is in our prayers and will have our full support as he recovers,” Tour commissioner Jay Monahan said in a statement.
Tour players at this week’s WGC-Workday Championship were stunned by the news, including Justin Thomas.

“I’m sick to my stomach,” said an emotional Thomas, who teared up as he spoke. “You know, it hurts to see one of your — now one of my closest friends get in an accident. Man, I just hope he’s all right. Just worry for his kids, you know. I’m sure they’re struggling.”

“It’s sickening,” said Adam Scott, who was watching coverage of the crash from player dining at the World Golf Championships-Workday Championship at The Concession. “He’s our hero out here. You think guys like Tiger and Kobe Bryant are untouchable, but they’re not. I just hope he’s all right.”

According to reports, Woods was heading to the second day of a photo/video shoot giving lessons to celebrities. On Monday, he shot a segment with NBA star Dwyane Wade.

This isn’t the first time Woods has been in a car accident. On Nov. 27, 2009, at about 2:30 a.m. outside of his former Florida home, his car hit several hedges, a fire hydrant and then came to rest after hitting a tree.

Woods was driving a 2009 black Cadillac Escalade. At the time Daniel Saylor, the Windermere chief of police, told the Associated Press that police found Woods outside of the vehicle with his wife, Elin, nearby.

The accident happened several days after the tabloid publication, the National Enquirer, published a story saying Woods was having an affair. Not long after the accident, and the story, Woods would confess to living a secret life and having multiple affairs.

USA Today and For The Win contributed to this report.