Tiger Woods car crash: Family ‘fear he’ll become addicted to painkillers’

The family of Tiger Woods fear he may become addicted to painkillers again during recovery from his horrific car crash which shattered his right leg and ankle.

The golfer, 45, flipped his loaned Genesis GV80 SUV in Los Angeles on Tuesday and he has undergone extensive surgery under general anesthetic at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center.

The 15-time Major champion, who is now in rehabilitation, is likely to be prescribed medication for severe pain resulting from his injuries.

The family of Tiger Woods (pictured on Sunday) fear he may become addicted to painkillers again during recovery from his horrific car crash which shattered his right leg and ankle

The golfer, 45, flipped his loaned Genesis GV80 SUV in Los Angeles on Tuesday, smashing the front of the car

The golfer, 45, flipped his loaned Genesis GV80 SUV in Los Angeles on Tuesday, smashing the front of the car

In 2017, Woods was found asleep at the wheel of his Mercedes at 2am, a month after undergoing surgery for his chronic back problems.

A toxicology report found Vicodin, Dilaudid, Xanax, Ambien and THC in his system and he subsequently entered a clinic to help with his prescription drug use following the DUI charge.

A source told The Sun Woods has a ‘deep-seated problem’ with medication and faces a ‘potentially huge problem’ ahead.

They said: ‘Heavy duty painkillers, anesthesia and sedatives have been administered already for Tiger’s operations — and he is now facing many more months of them. 

‘Tiger has been open about his struggles with these types of opioids for over a decade.

He has since undergone extensive surgery under general anesthetic at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center

He has since undergone extensive surgery under general anesthetic at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center

In 2017, Woods was found asleep at the wheel of his Mercedes at 2am under the influence of painkillers, a month after undergoing surgery for his chronic back problems

In 2017, Woods was found asleep at the wheel of his Mercedes at 2am under the influence of painkillers, a month after undergoing surgery for his chronic back problems

‘There is a real fear of him being exposed to these drugs in recovery, then leading him back to a place of addiction. It’s a deeply concerning time.’

The source added that Tiger’s ex-wife Elin Nordegren will be on hand to assist him with his recovery and protect their children.

Los Angeles Sheriffs said Wednesday they are not considering bringing charges against him over the near fatal crash.

Speaking during a Q&A on Facebook on Wednesday, LA County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said: ‘There was no evidence of any impairment whatsoever. He was lucid, no odor of alcohol, no evidence of any medication, narcotics or anything like that. 

‘That was not a concern so no field sobriety test and no drug expert needed to respond. This is what it is – an accident.’

Woods is shown at approximately 7.05am driving in Rancho Palos Verdes in his Genesis GV80, seven minutes before the crash which shattered his legs

Woods is shown at approximately 7.05am driving in Rancho Palos Verdes in his Genesis GV80, seven minutes before the crash which shattered his legs 

Police said the golfer was 'lucky to be alive' after he hit a raised central reservation while driving at high speed, smashed through a wooden street sign, splintered a tree, and then rolled his car several times

Police said the golfer was ‘lucky to be alive’ after he hit a raised central reservation while driving at high speed, smashed through a wooden street sign, splintered a tree, and then rolled his car several times

Asked if he may face charges, Villanueva said: ‘No. A reckless driving charge has a lot of elements to it. This was purely an accident. ‘

He added that authorities planned to pull the car’s black box to find out more and that he was pulled out of a windshield.

Woods rolled the Genesis GV80 at 7.12am less than 15 minutes after speeding out of the Terranea Resort in Ranchos Palos Verdes, where witnesses said he seemed ‘impatient’ and eager to get on the road. 

He was on his way to the Rolling Hills Country Club, 10 miles away, where he was due to meet New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees and L.A. Chargers’ quarterback Justin Herbert to film a show for GolfTV. They were due to meet at 7.30am and the drive ordinarily takes around 20 minutes.

The crash site is a known problem area, according to sheriffs who said on Tuesday they have seen people fly down the road at almost twice the speed limit.

After being pulled to safety through the car windshield, Tiger was taken to the Harbor-UCLA Medical Center to undergo surgery to his legs.

Police say Woods was travelling at high speed when he hit a raised central reservation, smashed through a wooden road sign, splintered a tree and then rolled his SUV off the wrong side of the road where it came to rest at the bottom of an embankment

Police say Woods was travelling at high speed when he hit a raised central reservation, smashed through a wooden road sign, splintered a tree and then rolled his SUV off the wrong side of the road where it came to rest at the bottom of an embankment

A straight line cut across the windscreen showed where first responders had sliced open the car to free Woods

A straight line cut across the windscreen showed where first responders had sliced open the car to free Woods

He suffered open fractures on his tibia and fibula – where the bone splinters into two or more pieces and comes through the skin – and had a rod inserted in his tibia, with his foot and ankle ‘stabilized with a combination of screws and pins’.

On Tuesday night, he was conscious, sitting up and responding to his loved ones. 

His girlfriend Erica Herman is with him at the hospital, as is his agent Mark Steinberg. It’s unclear when he will be released from the hospital, or if his children and ex-wife are there.

It comes after Woods sparked concern during an interview on Sunday where viewers thought the golfer appeared ‘zoned out’ and ‘tired’.

Firefighters used what they call a halligan tool to rip open Woods' car and rescue him on Tuesday morning

Firefighters used what they call a halligan tool to rip open Woods’ car and rescue him on Tuesday morning 

He spoke to CBS Sports about potentially playing in the Masters after undergoing his fifth back surgery in December. 

He said he was ‘hopeful’ he could appear at Augusta, just 48 hours before the wreck on Tuesday that has put his playing career in jeopardy. 

Speaking to CBS Sports host Jim Nantz, Woods was asked about his recovery and if he could compete in the first major of the year in April.

He said: ‘God I hope so, I’ve got to get there first.

Tiger Woods looked exhausted in a TV interview days before his horror crash on Tuesday in which he shattered his ankle and fractured his leg

Tiger Woods looked exhausted in a TV interview days before his horror crash on Tuesday in which he shattered his ankle and fractured his leg

‘A lot of it is based on my surgeons, my doctors, my therapists, and making sure that I do it correctly because this is the only back I’ve got, so I don’t know how much wiggle room we’ve left here.’

Nantz then asked Woods if he intended to play a tournament before the Masters.

The 15-time Major champion replied: ‘I don’t know what the plan is.

‘The plan is to just go and get an MRI scan and to see if we are healed and then we can start progressing.’

His interview at the time raised concerns among fans and fellow golfers about Woods’ state of mind. 

The golfer, 45, sparked concern among viewers as he spoke to CBS Sports on Sunday about the upcoming Masters

The golfer, 45, sparked concern among viewers as he spoke to CBS Sports on Sunday about the upcoming Masters

One tweeted: ‘Tiger Woods looked absolutely fried in that interview just now. 

‘Bloated, dull looking face and sounded like he was speaking through a muffler. Honestly reckon this last surgery could be the end for him. 

Another wrote: ‘Tiger looked so fed up right there.’

On Monday, Woods gave golf lessons to celebrities including comedian David Spade and former NBA star Dwayne Wade at the Rolling Hills Country Club in Los Angeles. 

 Spade and Wade both shared images with a smiling Woods on social media in which they thanked him for the day out.  

On Monday, Woods gave golf lessons to celebrities including comedian former NBA star Dwayne Wade

On Monday, Woods gave golf lessons to celebrities including comedian former NBA star Dwayne Wade

Woods also played a round with comedian David Spade at the Rolling Hills Country Club on Monday

Woods also played a round with comedian David Spade at the Rolling Hills Country Club on Monday

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