Return to Transcripts main page
The Situation Room
Tiger Woods Suffers Multiple Leg Injuries In Single-Car Accident; Tiger Woods Hospitalized After Car Flipped In Single-Car Crash; Security Officials Say They Didn't See Intel Report Night Before Riot; Ex-Capitol Police Chief: Rioters Came "Prepared For War". Aired 5-6p ET
Aired February 23, 2021 - 17:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[17:00:00]
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Things that started two weeks earlier instead of slowing things down, we could have saved 84 percent of the lives and you would have just extrapolated that.
JAKE TAPPER, CNN HOST: Yes.
GUPTA: You know, in the 12 months since.
TAPPER: Blood on his hands. Dr. Sanjay Gupta, thank you so much. Appreciated. Our coverage on CNN continues right now.
UNDENTIFIED MALE: This is CNN Breaking News.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN HOST: Welcome to our viewers here in the United States and around the world. I'm Wolf Blitzer in THE SITUATION ROOM. We're following breaking news. Tthe legendary golfer Tiger Woods is hospitalized near Los Angeles after his car went off the road and flipped over in a single vehicle accident. His agent tell a Golf Digest that Woods suffered multiple leg injuries and is in surgery.
We're standing by for a news conference about this very serious accident. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department will be briefing all of us soon standby for that. But right now let's go to CNN. Nick Watt is in Los Angeles for us. So Nick, give us the latest. What are you picking up?
NICK WATT, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, well what we are hearing from officials here is that Tiger Woods was driving on a downhill stretch of road a winding piece of road where officials say it is possible to pick up a lot of speed just through momentum. He crossed over the median of the road over the curb and then rolled that SUV in shrubs by the roadside.
He is now as far as we know still in a hospital about eight miles away from that crash scene. His agent told Golf Digest magazine he's suffering from multiple leg injuries and as you mentioned, either has undergone surgery or is still in surgery.
Now we've got a few more details from the LA Sheriff's Department speaking with KCBS they say that the injuries to Tiger Woods are non- life threatening. They believe he was conscious when officials first arrived on the scene they say Jaws of Life contrary to earlier reports. Jaws of Life were not used to remove him from that SUV. He was the only person in that car.
Now of course reaction to this coming in from all sides. Let's take a listen to what his good friend and fellow golfer Justin Thomas had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JUSTIN THOMAS, PRO GOLFER: I'm sick to my stomach you know it hurts to see one of your seven now my closest friends, you know, get in an accident and man I just hope he's all right. Just worried for his kids, you know? Sure the struggle.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WATT: So latest we hear Tiger Woods is in a quote, serious condition. As you mentioned, Wolf, at the top of the next hour at 6:00 Eastern Time we are expecting a press conference from officials here in Los Angeles, probably more about the accident itself than about Tiger Woods condition. But we are monitoring the situation from Los Angeles. Wolf.
BLITZER: And we will of course have live coverage of that news conference that's coming up. All right, Nick, a standby. We're going to get back to you. I want to bring in CNN's Josh Campbell, who's over near the hospital near Los Angeles, where which is undergoing surgery right now. What are you hearing Josh, what's the latest?
JOSH CAMBELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: So we're still waiting Wolf for an update on the current status. We know that after that rollover accident just after 7:00 a.m. here local time this morning that authority say that Tiger Woods was in serious condition.
At that time we have not received an update whether or not that condition has been elevated. We know he was brought here for surgery. A law enforcement source now tells CNN that he suffered from multiple compound fractures to his legs. That is all the details that we have at this point.
Now we again hope to have more information from authorities whenever they provide an additional update. We are here about eight miles from the actual crash site this accident resulting in such serious injuries. They had to bring Woods to the nearest level one trauma center that here at Harbor UCLA that covers the South Bay area here in Los Angeles.
Authority said that took about six minutes to arrive on the scene. They assess the situation. Obviously, those images that we've been showing just show this horrific car crash. He was extricated brought here to the hospital where he is currently being treated at this hour. Wolf.
BLITZER: Yes. And then the source tells us that he suffered from -- he has suffered from compound fractures in his legs. I will get an update from the hospital. I think fairly soon. Josh, thank you very much.
Let's get some more in the breaking news. Joining us now CNN's sports analyst Christine Brennan, Danny Rapaport, a staff writer at Golf Digest who covers Tiger Woods and CNN medical analyst, Dr. Leana Wen.
You know, Christine, an official with the Sheriff's Department says this was a winding road with a steep climb. You've been covering tiger woods for more than two decades. He's gone through his share of adversity as we all know, but the scenes of this crash when we look at those images. This is such a shock, isn't it?
[17:05:07]
CHRISTINE BRENNAN, CNN SPORTS ANALYST: It is Wolf especially because Tiger is 45 years old now. And that younger, more reckless Tiger who got himself in so much trouble back in 2009, and changed the image and the perception of so many people had his role model with his fall from grace and his personal scandal that was all self-induced.
That Tiger we thought was gone and in replaced a man who's a father, obviously a son. He has his daughter and his son by his side when he won the Masters in 2019, one of the more improbable stories in sports history, are coming back and winning the masters at age 43. Now he's 45.
And to see this, we have no idea what happened. We will find out. We will get answers. But as a journalist who's covered him for a long time, this is a shock, it would be a shock anyway. But the notion of Tiger as a much more stable person, a happier person, Wolf, you would see him jostling with the galleries and having a fun time talking to people. It's something that Tiger would have never done 20 years ago when he was so laser focused.
That's the Tiger we have seen the last few years and people love that and they love him. And so that's why you think of the golfer. But now of course, today you think of the human being Tiger, and you certainly hope that he is going to be OK.
BLITZER: We certainly do. And we just got Christina statement from Fred Ridley, the chairman of the Augusta National Golf Club. It was posted on the Masters Twitter site, Tiger Woods is part of the Augusta National family in the news of his accident is upsetting to all of us. We pray for him for his full recovery and for his family during this difficult time. That's from the chairman, Fred Ridley, we certainly do pray for him. We certainly hope he has a recovery.
This is really, you know, he's 45 years old, really such a awful situation that has developed because he was beginning to make a comeback certainly had his back surgery back in December. But he was on the path towards recovery, right?
BRENNAN: Oh, absolutely. He had actually just done an interview Wolf, two days ago, with CBS at the PGA tournament event that was going on in Los Angeles, which is why he was in LA. And he was asked about what the recovery looks like. And of course, what does everyone want to know? Is Tiger Woods going to be able to play in the Masters? This time, back in the spring after the pandemic issue last year with it being in November, now it's coming back. And will Tiger be there? And it's two years since he last won.
And what his answer was is he did not even know what his plan was. He was going to talk to his doctors. He'd been putting the ball and hitting some wedges, but certainly not able to practice full steam ahead. So that was a big question, right? Because you're thinking it's what, six, seven weeks to the Masters? And will Tiger be back and play a tournament that he is known for?
Now, of course, that seems like such a moot point. And the question of course, is going to be OK for the long term, with the Masters now being something that he cares very much about, obviously, Fred Ridley and the folks in Augusta care very much about Tiger. They're synonymous really, when you think about Tiger being associated with a golf tournament. It's the masters and the Masters in tiger and that is a love affair is sports love affair.
But now of course that seems like it's almost a distant memory as you're talking about the man recovering for life as opposed to getting a chance to play in a golf tournament in a month and a half.
BLITZER: He was interviewed on Sunday, Tiger Woods, let me play this little clip. Listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So tiger, seven weeks from today, final round of the Masters. You're going to be there?
TIGER WOODS, PRO GOLFER: Got to hope so. I got to get there first.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You feel like you --
WOODS: A lot of space on my surgeons and my doctors, my therapists and making sure that I do it correctly. And this is only back I got so much more, much more wiggle room left there.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: You know, Christine, he was obviously very hopeful that this was the beginning of another comeback.
BRENNAN: It was Wolf, but listen to those words what he said this is the only back I've got. This is a 45-year-old Tiger Woods who is looking ahead to the rest of his life. And yes, he wants to play golf. There's no one who wants to play and win in tournaments more than Tiger Woods even now, even though there are guys half his age who are chomping at his heels and chomping at the bit to try to beat him.
But that was a different Tiger Woods. The Tiger Woods I covered in the in the late 90s and the early part of this century was full steam ahead and that's one of the reasons he got into such trouble with injuries, back injuries and his knee et cetera.
But the fact that now he's saying I've only got one back, I've got to be careful. That's the different Tiger I was talking about. And frankly a guy that has people have been charmed by and have gravitated to because they said he's different. And that has been obviously something that fans would love to see.
[17:10:06]
So, yes, he was hoping of course to play. But I think now the cobalt clearly now the question is not that but even then it would have been difficult just because of the comeback then he would have had to have but never, I've never decided years ago we'll never ever to count Tiger Woods out on anything.
And I would even say this after what we don't know yet. I would still say that about Tiger Woods. He is a resilient and amazing athlete and someone the likes of which we really have never seen and that's certainly hopefully going to hold him in good stead at this time.
BLITZER: We certainly hope so. Danny Rapaport is with us. He's a staff writer for Golf Digest. He covers Tiger Woods, that's your job your full time job, Danny. So you're you were there, you were covering what was going on these past few days set the scene for us what was going on in the days leading up to this horrible accident?
DANNY RAPAPORT, GOLF DIGEST TIGER WOODS CORRESPONDENT: Right. So after the Genesis Invitational wrapped up on Sunday, we Golf Digest and Golf TV had a two day shoot scheduled with Tiger at Rolling Hills Country Club in Palos Verdes to neighborhood in LA.
On Monday, as you saw it, Dwayne Wade, and Jada Pinkett Smith posted onto social media that they were with tiger and there was some speculation that maybe Tiger was hitting balls or even playing holes, which would have suggested that he was not being truthful with Jim Nunn. But that's not true. That's not the case. He wasn't hitting balls. He wasn't playing holes. He was giving on course playing lessons.
And he was in good spirits on Monday when he did that. Three of them and they went well. And Tuesday was supposed to be basically a rerun of Monday, new celebrities coming in, and Tiger giving them on course lessons. But clearly he never made it to the golf course on Tuesday morning.
BLITZER: And where was he heading this morning, that early? 7:00 a.m. LA time?
RAPAPORT: Yes, so that was like -- he was on time. We had an early start scheduled for this morning. I think they were supposed to start shooting around 8:00. So Tiger was supposed to arrive at 730. So the timeline of the crash and where he was makes sense that he was on his way to the shoot.
BLITZER: And he was driving by himself. Normally, you would think Tiger Woods would have a car and a driver take them but what he wanted to drive his own his own car?
RAPAPORT: I don't really know. You know, according to the police department. He was the only person in the vehicle which obviously would suggest that he was the one driving. Yes, I don't -- I can't speak to what went into his reasoning behind driving by himself. But yes, all signs point to he was the lone person in the vehicle.
BLITZER: From what you could tell Danny, how was he doing after his back surgery back in December?
RAPAPORT: I mean, yes, he wasn't running around the place, but that's to be expected for a 45-year-old who's had five back surgeries. You saw him, I don't know if you saw him, but the people who watch him at the Genesis he was moving around.
He wasn't doing anything crazy. But he was standing up and walking around and he was totally fine on Monday as far as, you know, what you'd expect from someone who's a few months off of back surgery. There were no outward signs of anything wrong. He was smiling. You can see the video that Dwayne Wade posted on social media. Tiger was in really good spirits yesterday, so there was no sign that anything was what--
BLITZER: I think we may have lost Danny. Danny are you there? Yes, no, I think we lost Danny Rapaport. Let me bring in CNN's Andy Scholes to pick up our coverage. What are you hearing Andy? Because I know you're working your sources as well.
ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, you know, a lot of people stunned by what's happened and obviously the sports world all hoping and praying that Tiger Woods is going to be end up being OK.
And, you know, we just heard you know, he was at the Genesis tournament over the weekend. That's his tournament that he hosts and Wolf, it's funny, or it's not funny. It's just the way it is in golf these days, right? The person who won that golf tournament 30 year old Max Homa, said afterwards, you know, the reason he plays golf is because of Tiger Woods and it was a dream to win his tournament.
And, you know, there's just not many people in this world that have completely changed a sport. You know, you've got Michael Jordan, you've got Tiger Woods and the list after that, you know, Serena Williams with the list after that pretty short.
So obviously, well, everyone just hoping praying that Tiger is going to be OK in this accident. You know, he was already Wolf likely in the ninth inning of his career. 45 years old, you know, not many golfers at that age can compete for majors, even without injury and we all know Tigers had his fair share of coming off five back surgeries and now worried that he has multiple leg injuries, you know, hoping and praying he's able to come back from this if anyone could do it. It certainly Tiger Woods, Wolf, but it definitely will be a steep hill to climb.
BLITZER: Yes, a Los Angeles law enforcement source is telling us that it's not life threatening. Thank god the injuries right now. Non-life threatening, but he suffered what are described as compound fractures in his legs. We're seeing that vehicle, his car that is being towed away right now. It's pretty much destroyed. As you can see, Andy we're watching it, obviously very, very closely, very carefully.
It's such a jolt, not only the world of golf, but to the world of sports in general, right?
[17:15:13]
SCHOLES: Certainly is, Wolf. And you know, I've been to many tournaments that Tiger Woods competed in. It's just a different atmosphere. And I've said it before. I've never seen grown men cheer for another grown man like I've seen people cheer for Tiger Woods. That's just how much he's loved out there on the golf course. That's how much he means to people.
And, you know, we, a lot of sports fans got to relive Tiger's entire, you know, really his life in that HBO documentary. And it just brought back so many memories. And, you know, Wolf, I was at the 2019 Masters when he won, I got to interview him right afterwards. I mean, it's the greatest sports comeback of all time, in my opinion, and in many people's opinion.
And when I interviewed him after he won that tournament, he didn't spring up to go celebrate, Wolf. I mean, he got it gingerly, you know, walked away slowly, you know, playing four rounds of golf. Competitive golf these days was not easy for tiger, but he still went out there and tried to compete. And you know, here's hoping that we have not seen the last Tiger Woods competing on a golf.
BLITZER: I echo that, let's hope and pray that he's going to be OK.
Dr. Leana Wen is joining us, our CNN medical analyst, and she's an emergency room physician. So when someone like Tiger Woods, is in a car crash like this, and is brought to the emergency room, Dr. Wen, what do you immediately start looking for?
DR. LEANA WEN, CNN MEDICAL ANALYST: Well, the first thing is, Wolf, I would want to understand exactly what happened in the accident. Was something precipitating the accident, or was this driver error? Did the person lose consciousness? How severe was the damage to the vehicle? And was there a prolonged extrication time was there a lot of time spent trying to get the individual out?
Then we would do what's called the primary trauma survey. So we look at airway, breathing, circulation, the ABCs, and see if there's something immediately life threatening that we have to address does this patient are they breathing on their own? Is their circulation good at the moment, then we do a head to toe survey, we make sure that even if it may look obvious, for example, in this case, it sounds like there are substantial leg injuries, even if it looks like obviously they're like injuries, you also don't want to miss other injuries that may be there as well.
So we would look to see are there head injuries, are there spinal injuries, are there also -- is there also damage to the chest or the abdomen? Usually we do an ultrasound at the bedside in the ER to see if there's any fluid indicating that there may be bleeding inside the abdomen. And then we would look to see if there are like injuries to especially if there are substantial life injuries.
Generally the force is such that there may be other injuries associated with that. So obviously don't know if that's the case with Tiger Woods. But in-patients in the ER, those are the other things that you want to look for. You don't want to miss the other injuries, when there is something that's very obvious. That's the consequence of a trauma like this.
BLITZER: And so can they immediately begin surgery. Let's say he's got, you know, fractured legs, can they immediately begin surgery? Or do they have to do a test for his whole body first.
WEN: Generally, for patients coming into the ER, we would do a head to toe scan, because you also want to see, is there something else that we're missing? Is there bleeding inside the brain? Again, not saying that this is the case at all in this circumstance, but that in trauma patients, you want to make sure that you don't miss something else too.
So you generally do a head to toe scan, looking to see are there spinal injuries? Is there any damage to the lungs, to the heart, anything else that we could be missing as well. And typically after that, once the extent of the injuries are known, the plan is then made about what type of surgery should be done.
Sometimes, for example, if there's also bleeding inside the abdomen, sometimes the surgery is done together in order to look for that source of bad bleeding and to look for other sources too.
BLITZER: I asked the question Dr. Wen because it seems to me and I obviously not a doctor that if you can already start doing surgery on his multiple leg injuries as his agent Mark Steinberg says he was in a car single car accident suffered multiple leg injuries. He's currently in surgery, we thank you for your privacy and support. So if you can start doing surgery right away, that's a bit encouraging, is it?
WEN: I'm not sure that I would say that Wolf. It could be certainly, but it could also the other circumstance that I've seen is that some patients could have for example, substantial bleeding, where there is a fracture. So depending on what they may have broken and in this case, what was reported was that there are compound fractures, meaning that the bone pierces the skin.
And if that's the case, is there could there also be damage to blood vessels, do they also need to stop bleeding and that may be a reason to start surgery. Again, we don't know the details, but I'm not sure that the reason that the fact that surgery was done quickly is necessary good or bad?
[17:20:01]
BLITZER: I want to bring in CNN World Sports host, Don Riddell has been watching all of this unfold. Don, tell us what Tiger Woods has meant not only here in the United States but around the world.
DON RIDDELL, CNN WORLD SPORT HOST: Well, Wolf, how long have you gone? It would be very difficult to put that into just a few words. I mean, this is a man who revolutionized the game of golf. This is a man who transcended the game of golf. This is a man whose narrative arc has been absolutely extraordinary. And a Hollywood writers dream.
When you look at he was a childhood star. He was on television with a dainty little set of golf clubs when he was just one or two years old. A child prodigy, a university golf standout star, and somebody who burst onto the golf scene and started winning major tournaments emphatically so almost immediately.
The chase for Jack Nicklaus is 18 major titles really kind of defined the competitive element of his career. He got to 14, of course, he was stuck on 14 for so long. And that's when his life really started to fall apart. His marital difficulties, the infidelities, which was so well chronicled, and then on top of that, we had all the injuries, the knee injuries, the back surgeries for back surgeries.
And all of that kind of led up to this moment, at the Masters in 2019, when seemingly against all the odds, he won again, and it was described as the most extraordinary comeback in all of sports. And one of the reasons people were so excited about it was because we knew this might not happen again. And he shows a few moments ago was describing the way he walks, he doesn't bounce up. He's not a spring chicken anymore. His body has lived many, many lives.
And so when he won in 2019, it seemed as though this could be the last. Now, he has been playing up until the end of last year, he's just undergone a fifth back surgery, this one to relieve pressure on a disc where he had another trapped nerve feeling in his back. And he was asked just at the weekend in Los Angeles, are you going to be playing the Masters, which is coming up in seven weeks time and kind of the assumption was, of course he will be. Tigers response was good, I hope so.
You could tell how much it means to him to be playing in this tournament that he has already won five times. But you could tell by the look in his eye that he wasn't sure the follow up question was well, you know, I assume you play a warm up tournament before that. He said, I don't know. I don't have a plan. I really don't know what the plan is.
And now to have this event just a couple of days later. And we're all now speculating as to what this means. It doesn't sound great, does it? The good news is the injuries are not life threatening. But what is this going to mean to his body, the injuries, the trauma upon the multiple traumas that he's already suffered? How good is he going to be at golf? Is he going to be able to play golf again? We just don't know.
But to answer your original question, what is he meant to the world of golf? I mean, he is one of the all time greats in all sport. He's a global star. I asked him years ago, is there anybody -- is there anywhere on the planet that you like to go, anywhere where you're not recognized? And he said yes, underwater. That's why I love diving so much.
His entire life has been lived in a goldfish bowl. He doesn't enjoy the scrutiny. He hates it. He will have hated that recent HBO documentary, which came out which was so compelling, and so entertaining, that he won't have enjoyed seeing that. And here he is now in a situation again, where the whole world is watching Tiger Woods to see what happens next.
BLITZER: Yes, we're showing our viewers right now Don, the vehicle, the car, which he was driving a Tiger Woods early this morning, 7:00 a.m. LA time when it careened off the side of the road went into that ditch, it's now been brought up to the street that you can see the front of that vehicle, you can see the damage the front windshield, and all of that we understand he was removed through that front windshield once the emergency crews got there.
Let me play Don a clip. We just got this clip from PGA Tour player, Jon Rahm, who had this to say listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JON RAHM, PRO GOLFER: It's a different atmosphere in an event when Tiger is playing and when it's not playing, and he's that big no matter even if the best 20 players in the world are playing. If he's not there, you can tell the difference. And there's a sad to see who's a great ambassador of the game.
And, you know, he was trying to turn is -- starting to turn his life around and you know, maybe looking forward in the future to retirement, spending some great time with his son, Charlie, and I just hope, you know, he can get out of the hospital walk in meaning after recovery and, you know, he can still play with his kids and have a normal life.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: We certainly all hope that. So what's your sense right now the whole world is watching. You know, Don, the whole world wants him to make a full recovery. And obviously, I suspect he's not going to be in the PGA tournament in seven weeks, but we just want him to be OK. I'm sure people all over the world are praying for him right now.
[17:25:04]
RIDDELL: Yes, and Jon Rahm touched upon something there, because we've all seen, you know, I mean, Tiger Woods has been a parent for, well, his kids are about the same age as mine. And what 13, 14 years ago that he had his first daughter.
You know, what we saw more recently with Charlie, his son coming out and playing alongside him, which was absolutely brilliant to see. And his son clearly has an insane amount of golfing talent as well. We were seeing a new Tiger Woods. We were seeing more of a family man. We were seeing more of a caring father. We were seeing a man who just seemed a little bit more chill, a little bit more relaxed. And I think people really wanted to see that. I think, you know, whatever you think of the decisions that he's made in life, and he is paid dearly for some of his actions. You know, people still like rooting for the athlete.
And I think once we saw him come back from all his challenges and traumas, and to win again, and to see what it meant to him and to see what it meant to his family and his kids. How could you not root for the guy? How could you not want him to live happily ever after, with his two kids who clearly adore him.
And I think that's what a lot of these younger golfers seeing and now talking about. Jon Rahm exactly that. That comment. Justin Thomas earlier today said he's sick to his stomach. And what's happened today, Justin Thomas is very, very close to Tiger Woods.
A lot of these golfers were inspired to play because of Tiger Woods, they will love the chance in 2019, to actually be able to compete against him in his prime because they've only ever seen him in his prime on video.
And I think that's, that's something that's of great concern right now is just what does the future of Tiger Woods life look like? Not necessarily the rest and the future of his golf career. It's just what condition is Tiger Woods, the man going to be left in after this point. And you know, we're all speculating. We're all working our sources we're all trying to find out but clearly, it's just too soon to know.
BLITZER: You can see the sheriff, the police over there, they're going through that vehicle either removing things, they're taking pictures. Obviously they want to have a full investigation and we're standing by in about a half hour or so from now. They're going to have a news conference in LA. We'll have live coverage of that coming up.
Danny Rapaport is back with us staff writer for Golf Digest. You know, Danny, you've been covering Tiger Woods for the last few years on a daily basis. First of all, what's it like to cover Tiger Woods?
RAPAPORT: That's a great question. I mean, as a kid who grew up in the in the early 2000s, and he was this larger-than-life figure as all the other guests have touched upon, you know, he's Tiger Woods. He's one of those names that -- you just hear the name and it transcends sports. He's the reason that I love golf. And it's been a thrill. And he's been nothing but generous and (INAUDIBLE) and patient with us and very generous with his time.
And I think this is a new Tiger that we've seen in the last couple years. That's no secret. You know, he's different with the media than he was when he was sort of at his ruthless best, and in his 20s, and even in his early 30s. And I think his back struggles really did humble him, you know, he thought that he might not ever get to play this game again. And this is what Tiger Woods does.
So the whole thought of not being able to do that I think really gave him some perspective. And it's been great. And I've been at, I think, every event that he's played in the last 18 months. So this is a tough day. You know, it's a tough day. I've spent so much time around this guy. And like you said, this is what I do so, so seeing those pictures and not having answers is tough.
BLITZER: Your full-time job is to cover Tiger Woods. Is he accessible? Was he kind? Was he nice to you? What was it like?
RAPAPORT: Yes, nice kind, all those things. I mean, of course, he's Tiger Woods, and he's got a lot of different competing interests for his time. So it's not like we're hanging out all the time. But every time that I did get to talk to him, he remembers my name. You know, talks to me one on one is honest, forthright, it's really been a thrill. It's been it's been a great experience. So I'm kind of really now really not --
BLITZER: Yes, I think we just lost Danny again. We'll try to reconnect with him. Christine Brennan is still with us. So Christine give us a sense of what this means right now, what it means for golf, what it means for sports, as we hope and pray that he's going to make a complete recovery.
BRENNAN: This is a huge story, Wolf. It's an absolutely huge story. Obviously, look at what we're doing right now in the world. There's so much going on and it's Tiger and it will be I think for several days. Why is that? He is he transcended golf long ago and moved into the stratosphere of culture and role model them and iconic status that will be studied 100 years from now. It's just -- it's part of our culture. It's what we do.
We usually go on a first name basis with these people, Tiger, Kobe, obviously comes to mind 13 months ago within Southern California as well obviously very, very different tragedies, of course, and yet, here we are, again, talking about an athlete and the nation's love for an athlete and the outpouring of not just golfers in this case, but all people who have come to know him and like him, or people who didn't like him.
[17:30:05]
And certainly, I've been as critical as anyone in columns over the years of some of his behavior. And he and I know each other, and we have shaken hands and smiled and moved on. So that's the kind of guy he is. I mean, he realizes that he could be polarizing at times, and he could be beloved at many times.
And right now, obviously, everyone, no matter if you like him or didn't like him, all right, now, of course, you're thinking of him as the dad of those two beautiful kids we saw at the green on 2019 Masters. I was right there and watch that happen.
His daughter and his son, both sports playing kids, a soccer player his daughter is, and a golfer his son is. Little kids, you know, basically just starting out young kids. And that's what we're thinking of right now. But this is a story that will dominate the news the next few days, as Tiger always dominates, whether he's on the golf course, or unfortunately, in this very difficult situation. BLITZER: Do you think, Christine, he would be able to play in the PGA in seven weeks, given the fact that he did have this major back surgery in December?
BRENNAN: I was doubtful, Wolf. This is the Masters, it's the first of the four men's majors. And it's the tournament he loves the most. And it's the one that he always has the best shot of winning at. He won in 2019. And probably at the age of 43, who saw that coming? No one. And most people had written him off. I had not actually. I said you never count out Tiger Woods, and I will still say that today.
But, obviously, it's a different conversation today than it is if it's just a sports conversation. But Tiger Woods wants to play in the Masters more than anything. The fact that six and a half weeks away, you have to be in tip-top shape, you've had to play rounds of golf to get ready to play the Masters. And that's where I would have said it might be tough. Having said that, I never want to count Tiger Woods out. Obviously now, it's a very different scenario with his tragic car crash.
But even before that, I think with the back surgery and the way he talked about it in that clip that you played a while ago from CBS Sports, where he was saying, I don't know what the plan is, but let's see, let's see what my surgeon say. I only have one back. I think that that was probably Tiger telegraphing that it would have been difficult to play in early April, even obviously before the horrifying events of today.
BLITZER: Yes, we did some checking. You know, Christine, he won the Masters Tournament five times, the U.S. Open three times, the PGA Championship four times, the British Open three times. He's the PGA career money list leader of all times. It's really an amazing and amazing story over these past 20, 25 years of what he has done in the world of golf, in the world of sports. He's had some major setbacks, as we all know, but he really is a remarkable, a remarkable athlete.
BRENNAN: No one like him. I've covered a lot of sports, Wolf, as you know. We'd go back a long way here in Washington and, and there's certainly -- he's in the top five of just the most remarkable athletes I've ever covered. You consider, as you were talking about the major championships, his last one, prior to the Masters in 2019 was 2008.
So he went from the U.S. Open the summer of 2008 to April of 2019, without winning a major and everyone said, no way. And then he emerged and that will be the kind of story that people tell their grandkids and their great grandkids pass along about how Tiger came back against all odds, 11 years after he had won his previous major.
So, that's the Tiger Woods you know and that's the fighting spirit that he's going to need. Obviously, I don't want to get too cliche written here, because we're talking about sporting event and golf. And now we're talking life, but that's exactly what -- is going to need that comeback spirit that that he has, and he has had -- mounds of it, and he's going to need it obviously now in a very different way.
BLITZER: He certainly will. And we, of course, are not only praying for him hoping for the best but for his children, Charlie -- his son, Charlie, his daughter Sam. You know, he became, as we've all seen, very, very close with both of these kids. And it's heartbreaking to just think about that angle.
We're showing our viewers these pictures coming in. That's the vehicle that he was driving by himself around 7:00 a.m. L.A. time earlier today, which went off this winding road into the cliff that vehicle has now been brought out of the cliff.
And we've seen the sheriff's deputies. They've been going through it, collecting all sorts of evidence there.
Nick Watt is in L.A. for us. We're standing by in about less than a half an hour or so for now. The sheriff -- the sheriffs in L.A., Nick, are supposed to brief us on the very latest information, we'll have live coverage, but what are you hearing?
NICK WATT, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, the latest we're hearing is that the injuries to Tiger Woods are not life-threatening and we hear from officials that they believe he was conscious when emergency personnel first arrived on that scene.
[17:35:01]
Also, a little bit of description from those officials about the road that this crash occurred on. Now, he was -- Tiger Woods was on a downhill stretch in that SUV. A winding road, official say, you can pick up speed on that road, just through momentum. He crossed the median. He jumped the curb and then flipped that SUV in the shrubs along the side of the road. All of this at about 7:00 a.m. this morning, Pacific Time.
Now, we have heard that he has compound fractures to his legs, has undergone surgery or he's perhaps still undergoing surgery to those injuries. But the headline, Wolf, the injuries to Tiger Woods right now we are being told, are not life-threatening. Wolf?
BLITZER: And that's encouraging. We got a statement, a tweet from Jack Nicklaus. Let me just read it for our viewers right now just posted on Twitter. "Barbara and I just heard about Tiger's accident, and like everyone else, we are deeply concerned. We want to offer him our heartfelt support and prayers at this difficult time. Please join us in wishing Tiger a successful surgery and all the best for a full recovery." And we, of course, echo what Jack Nicklaus has just said.
Josh Campbell is with us over the hospital. Josh, are you getting new information on his condition?
JOSH CAMPBELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We're still waiting, Wolf, for an update from officials here. We know that after that crash just after the 7:00 a.m. hour here in Los Angeles, Woods was taken about eight miles to where I am. This is the nearest level one trauma center.
This is a harbor UCLA Medical Center where he is -- he underwent surgery now. At the time of the transport, he was listed as in serious condition, that according to authorities. We have not yet heard whether that has since been elevated.
As Nick just mentioned, our sources are telling us that the injuries are not believed to be life-threatening. We do know that he did suffer some compound fractures, again, that resulting in him being hospitalized here. You look at images of that vehicle and it's truly just astonishing just how violent of a crash that was.
We know that this is a rollover accident. You see serious damage to that vehicle. And, of course, that resulting in those very serious injuries for this golf superstar who is now recovering behind me here at a hospital outside Los Angeles.
BLITZER: I want to bring back Dr. Leana Wen. Dr. Wen, you're an emergency room physician. When someone is in serious condition as opposed to critical condition, explain to our viewers the difference.
WEN: Well, medical professionals do their best in order to make a prediction of the kind of condition that someone is in. Although that prediction isn't always going to last, as in somebody could initially be in serious condition, but then they are moved to be in stable condition. Or they may start out being stable but then end up becoming more unstable.
And so, right now, based on what we understand, it sounds like Mr. Woods is not in critical condition. So, his vital signs probably are not such that they are extremely worried about him. But they are monitoring him extremely closely. And it sounds like he's still in surgery and the results of the surgery probably will determine what ends up happening and whether he gets downgraded potentially at that point to being in stable condition, which is what I know we all hope for.
BLITZER: We're waiting for a news conference from the L.A. Sheriff who's going to be briefing us, we're told right at the top of the hour. I assume, Dr. Wen, at some point that doctors will come out and brief us as well, is that your assumption?
WEN: I would imagine so. I do think that there is information that the fire department, the paramedics and EMTs who are on scene could provide certain information that's really important. So, as an example, they could tell us more about the nature of the accident.
Did Mr. Woods lose consciousness during this? Was there something else that could have precipitated the accident? I know it was described as a one car accident, but maybe there was another car that passed by and that may have caused this? We don't know.
And I think getting more information about that, also getting more information about the extrication was this something that required prolonged extrication, a lot of time that was spent doing so would also make a difference in terms of understanding more about Mr. Woods condition as well. And I think also, having further details from the physicians at some point would also help us to understand what the extent of the injuries are. So far, we know that they are leg injuries, but we don't know the extent of the leg injuries. I will say that in patients generally who have substantial leg injuries, that there probably is substantial enough force that you would want to make sure there aren't other organs that are also damaged as well. And so, I am certain that the doctors at UCLA have done a very thorough assessment of these other injuries. Although keep in mind that sometimes injuries also may not be apparent initially. And this is the reason why monitoring the patient so closely over time is really critical.
BLITZER: So critical indeed. Compound fractures in his legs, that's what we're told. The surgery is all about at least right now.
We're going to squeeze in a quick break. We're going to stay on top of all the breaking news. Tiger Woods right now, we're told, a non-life- threatening injuries suffering compound fractures, much more right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[17:44:02]
BLITZER: We're following the breaking news on Tiger Woods. He's in the hospital right now. We're told, he's undergoing surgery for what are described as compound fractures in his legs. We're also told he has not engaged -- does not have life-threatening injuries right now. We're staying on top of this.
Danny Rapaport is still with us, staff writer for Golf Digest. He's the Tiger Woods Correspondent. So Danny, I don't know if you're getting new information, you're hearing anything. What can you share with our viewers?
RAPAPORT: Yes, unfortunately, nothing more. I think he's probably still in surgery. So, until we hear anything about how the surgery went or anything, I don't have anything more than is currently being publicly reported. Yes, it's obviously a tough situation not knowing anything. I think when you see those images, clearly you want more information. You know, you want to believe that it really is leg injuries that that's the extent of the injury from that car. And we're all hoping that's the case.
And as of right now, I think it's important to note there is no indication that there's anything else, you know, until we hear that there is a lot of speculation going around. But until we hear from Woods or Woods camp post-surgery, it's just too early to speculate.
[17:45:12]
BLITZER: We see people there in the area where that vehicle went down into that ditch over there off the road, it looks like they're collecting evidence. There's going to be a news conference coming up, we're told that about 15 minutes from the sheriff, going to brief us on what's going on. And I assume at some point, the doctors will emerge from the hospital there and give us an update as well. We're all hoping for the best. Tiger Woods is an amazing, amazing, not only athlete, amazing person that we've watched for so, so many years. And you've watched him, Danny, so closely over the past what, year and a half, two years, as you've covered him full time for Golf Digest. And you tell us he was accessible, he was nice, he was kind, he treated you with respect. Is that right?
RAPAPORT: Absolutely. Yes, you know, hearing some stories about Tiger over the years is definitely a little bit apprehensive going into this, you know, what is he going to treat me like, what's the relationship going to be like, but it's worth it's worth sharing. He's been nothing but very kind and very generous with his time with me. And, you know, I think that's kind of consistent with what I've heard about Tiger just over the years. He softened, I think that's, that's clear and he would admit that.
You know, in his 20s, he was this ruthless competitor, with the only thing that mattered was not just beating the other golfers to crushing them and crushing their spirit. You know, he seem to take joy in that. If you look at the way that he interacts with other professionals now, guys like Justin Thomas, guys like Jon Rahm, he's friends with them, he knows his place in the game is this sort of elder statesman now. He's a legend and he's one of the guys and that never used to be the case.
And I think that we've seen, and it's been so nice to see in his last public appearance, playing alongside his son, that was kind of the culmination of all this. I mean, the thought of him doing that playing in a hit and giggle with his son 10 years ago was so -- not even in the realm of possibility, but it just shows how the journey that he's taken personally and professionally. So today's is a really tough day because it really seemed like he was in a fantastic place in his life.
BLITZER: Were you working under the assumption, Danny, that he was going to make a comeback following his back surgery in December, we would see him out of the golf course again playing?
RAPAPORT: Absolutely, absolutely. I mean, if you look at where he was in 2017, after the spinal fusion surgery, where he barely couldn't, you know, he couldn't walk, all the reports came from that Augusta National Champions dinner that he, you know, couldn't speak, couldn't move.
And then if he comes back from that, you know, there's no reason to believe that he wasn't going to come back from this, which was actually, you know, a pretty routine procedure. It was like the fourth time that he had had, and it was not really a structural thing, so much is kind of cleaning up that there was some issue with -- related to the spinal fusion, but it was not expected to be, you know, a super extensive recovery.
And I think he was scheduled to get another scan later this month and he was supposed to be clear to return to practice. And once that happens, you know, it's only a matter of weeks or months until he comes back. So I really do believe he was targeting the Masters. And as we've talked about, you know, on the show so far, that's the tournament for him. That's the one he knows he's got the best chance to win. So I really
think he wanted to return for that one. I think he had his eyes on that and then something like this happens, which obviously just takes all those plans and throws them into outer space.
BLITZER: Andy Scholes is still with us, our CNN Sports Correspondent. Were you working on that assumption as well, Andy, that he was going to make yet another comeback?
ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, we know that Tiger Woods one thing about him, he always wants to compete in the Masters. It's his favorite tournament. It's the one he has the best shot of winning every year just because it's always there and he knows the course so well.
And, you know, there's one tournament he's going to try to play every single time, we know it's the Masters. And we heard him, you know, Jim Nantz kind of pressed him about that on Sunday, when he was hosting the Genesis tournament, you know, you're going to be able to play.
And you know, when I heard Tiger Wood talking -- respond to him, he said, God, I hope so. And it really didn't sound that convincing, Wolf, you know, we kind of just thought it was like a sure thing. You know, when Tiger had his fifth back surgery, well, you know, he's having it now so that he can get in shape and come back and be ready for the Masters once again. But he didn't sound very convincing. You know, he didn't -- he hasn't competed so far, you know, in 2021. He was at the Genesis tournament as the host.
And then he was basically doing some practice sessions with Dwyane Wade, Hall of Famer and David Spade, the actor for a shoot. That's what he's been doing the last few days. But, you know, he wasn't playing golf. He was just kind of giving them pointers and maybe doing some putting.
But, you know, Wolf, the hope was, he was going to be able to compete in the 2021 Masters. And, you know, now the hope is, he's just OK.
BLITZER: Let's just hope he's OK. Very quickly, Danny, tell us about the Genesis tournament, you're out there. What is it exactly?
I think we lost --
RAPAPORT: -- TGR Venture has been hosting since 2017. Played a Riviera Country Club, which actually it's a nice piece of symmetry. It's where Tiger played his first ever PGA Tour event as a 16-year-old in 1992.
[17:50:05]
So he comes back full circle. He's played in at the last couple years. This year, obviously, was not playing as he continued to recover from back surgery, but he was out there a little bit on Saturday and then in a more extensively on Sunday to watch the action. It was -- it ended up being won by Max Homa.
And Tiger was on the putting green smiling, handing him the trophy. He was definitely a part of the ceremonies that day. So it's Tigers event, they have kind of three players have events on the PGA Tour, and then it's very symbolic of their stature in the game.
They've got Jack Nicklaus with the memorial tournament. They've got Arnold Palmer with the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill, and now Tiger Woods with the Genesis Invitational. So, it was a celebration and it's a tournament that benefits his foundation, the TGR Foundation, which I can say from firsthand is something that he takes great pride in. So it was really a celebratory week despite Tiger not playing. And then this happens on Tuesday.
BLITZER: Yes, we can see local authorities collecting parts from that vehicle and putting it on one of the trucks over there. You can see the left -- right in the -- on the left part of the street over there, you can see the car, the vehicle that Tiger Woods was driving, which went off the side of the road and crashed. We're going to stay on top of this much more coming up. We got a news conference right at the top of the hour. We'll get back to that.
But right now quickly, I want to report on some major dramatic developments unfolding here in Washington, up on Capitol Hill where lawmakers held the first hearing looking into the January 6th insurrection. Our Justice Correspondent Jessica Schneider is joining us. Jessica, we learned some very disturbing new information today.
JESSICA SCHNEIDER, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: We did, Wolf, and this is the first time we're hearing directly from those officials who made the decisions on that fateful day. They knew that there could be violence but they say they weren't prepared for the beating of officers with everything from pipes to flagpoles or the fact that these riders had their own radio system to coordinate the attack. And now we know those leaders also didn't get alerted to a crucial FBI bulletin.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SCHNEIDER (voice-over): Tonight, new revelations from Capitol Police that an FBI report warning of a violent war at the Capitol on January 6th, was relayed to Capitol Police Headquarters one day before the violent insurrection, but it was never seen by the department's leadership.
SEN. GARY PETERS (D-MI): How can you not get that vital intelligence on the eve of what's going to be in a major event?
STEPHEN SUND, FORMER CHIEF OF U.S. CAPITOL POLICE: I know that's something that's going to be looked at. I think that information would have been helpful to be aware of.
SCHNEIDER (voice-over): The Washington Post reported last month that the FBI bulletin quoted individuals saying, "Be ready to fight. Go there ready for war. We get our President or we die". But Stephen Sund who stepped down as Capitol Police Chief days after the insurrection, said he was only made aware of the report yesterday. Sund stressed it was just raw intelligence. But D.C.'s acting police chief said more should have been done to alert officials at the Capitol. ROBERT J. CONTEE III, ACTING CHIEF OF THE METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT OF WASHINGTON, D.C.: I would certainly think that something as violent as an insurrection at the Capitol would warrant, you know, a phone call or something. I think that the intelligence is not -- did not make it where it needed to be.
SCHNEIDER (voice-over): Sund said even the intelligence that was relayed did not forecast the destruction that followed.
SUND: Based on the intelligence that we received, we plan for an increased level of violence at the Capitol, and that some participants may be armed. But none of the intelligence we received predicted what actually occurred. We properly plan for mass demonstration with possible violence. What we got was a military style coordinated assault on my officers and a violent takeover of the Capitol building.
SCHNEIDER (voice-over): All of the officials testifying agreed the groups that converged on the Capitol were, in fact, coordinated.
SEN. AMY KLOBUCHAR, (D-MN): Do you agree that there is now clear evidence that supports the conclusion that the January 6th insurrection was planned and it was a coordinated attack on the U.S. Capitol?
SUND: Yes.
LOBUCHAR: Would you agree that this attack involved white supremacists and extremist groups?
SUND: Yes.
SCHNEIDER (voice-over): The most pressing questions surrounded the delayed deployment of the National Guard, which former Chief Sund said was initially held up because he needed an emergency declaration from the Capitol Police board.
CONTEE III: Chief Sund was pleading for the deployment of the National Guard. And in response to that, there was not an immediate yes. I was just stunned that, you know, I have officers that were out there literally fighting for their lives. And, you know, we're kind of going through, you know, what seemed like an exercise to really check the boxes.
SCHNEIDER (voice-over): Many on the Capitol Police Force are still feeling the effects of the breakdowns that day.
CAPT. CARNEYSHA MENDOZA, U.S. CAPITOL POLICE: I received chemical burns to my face that still have not healed to this day. Of the multitude of events, I've worked in my nearly 19-year career in the department. This was by far the worst of the worst. We could have had 10 times the amount of people working with us and I still believe the battle would have been just as devastating. As an American, and as an army veteran, it's sad to see us attacked by our fellow citizens.
(END VIDEOTAPE) SCHNEIDER: It was also revealed today that most of the Capitol Police officers were not equipped with riot gear or the right kind of training to respond to the violence they faced.
[17:55:02]
There will be another hearing next week that will include with the FBI, the Homeland Security and the Defense Department where, Wolf, there will definitely be more inquiries about why it took so long to get National Guard troops to respond to the Capitol. Wolf?
BLITZER: All right, Jessica, thanks very much. We'll have more on that coming up as well.
But when we come back the breaking news, law enforcement officials are about to hold a news conference on the rollover accident that has Tiger Woods hospitalized right now with multiple fractures. We have new details about the crash, that's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
