Tiger Woods’ girlfriend visits golf star in hospital

Tiger Woods’ girlfriend was seen visiting the golf icon in hospital as he recovers from horrific injuries sustained in a dramatic car crash.

Tiger Woods’ girlfriend Erica Herman was spotted paying the golf legend a visit at the hospital on Thursday (AEDT) as he recovers from emergency surgery on his legs following a shocking car crash.

Herman, 44, was seen outside of the Harbor-UCLA Medical Centre in Los Angeles wearing a mask while walking alongside a man, believed to be Woods’s longtime caddie, Joe LaCava.

Herman left briefly and returned to the hospital with a brown bag, potentially filled with food so Woods isn’t stuck eating hospital fare.

Woods and Herman became official as a couple in 2017. She supported him in court when he was pinged for driving under the influence that year and was by his side when the 44-year-old recorded an incredible win at the 2019 Masters — his first major title in 11 years.

They met when Herman was managing a Florida restaurant Woods owns.

Late last year she was a spectator alongside Woods’ ex-wife Elin Nordegren as they watched the sporting icon team up with 11-year-old son Charlie in a father-son tournament in Florida.

Nordegren and Woods have two children together, Charlie and 13-year-old daughter Sam, and it was a family affair in December as the quartet, along with Herman, travelled to Orlando to watch the Woods boys strut their stuff on the fairways.

Woods and Nordegren married in 2004 before they divorced in 2010 when his cheating was exposed, the golfer found to have slept with multiple women while in a relationship with the Swedish model.

Herman and Woods have been together since 2017.

She was by his side when he won the Masters in 2019.

Meanwhile, Woods won’t face charges after authorities declared his horror crash an “accident”, making it clear no alcohol or other substances were involved.

Sheriff Alex Villanueva told reporters during a Facebook Q&A: “He was lucid, no odour 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.

“We don’t contemplate any charges whatsoever in this crash.

“This remains an accident. An accident is not a crime, they do happen unfortunately.

“The Deputy on the scene assessed the condition of Tiger Woods and there was no evidence of any impairment whatsoever.

“He was not drunk … we can throw that one out.”

Woods’ team released a statement on Wednesday afternoon (AEDT) about him undergoing a “long surgical procedure on his lower right leg and ankle”, while the hospital also commented on his treatment.

“Mr Woods suffered significant orthopaedic injuries to his right lower extremity that were treated during emergency surgery by orthopaedic trauma specialists at Harbor-UCLA Medical Centre, a level 1 trauma centre,” Dr Anish Mahajan, MD, Chief Medical Officer and Interim CEO of Harbor-UCLA Medical Centre, said.

“Comminuted open fractures affecting both the upper and lower portions of the tibia and fibula bones were stabilised by inserting a rod into the tibia. Additional injuries to the bones of the boot and ankle were stabilised with a combination of screws and pins.

“Trauma to the muscle and soft-tissue of the leg required surgical release of the covering of the muscles to relieve pressure due to swelling.”

With Gabrielle Fonrouge, New York Post