Is the Genesis GV80 safe to drive? Tiger Woods was cruising in Hyundai luxury SUV at time of horrific crash
Tiger Woods was behind the wheel of a courtesy car when he crashed it Tuesday morning in California. The ace golfer was cruising around in the Genesis GV80 SUV just days after appearing at a golf tournament sponsored by the auto brand. The 45-year-old legend crashed the luxury SUV around 7 am in Los Angeles County, before he was rushed to the hospital as he needed surgery for multiple leg injuries, the New York Post reported.
DEVELOPING: Golfing legend Tiger Woods has been transported to the hospital in serious condition after a single-car rollover crash in Southern California early Tuesday according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department. More tonight. https://t.co/NsBaz2wpMZ pic.twitter.com/f6v6HUwnG6
— World News Tonight (@ABCWorldNews) February 23, 2021
The overwhelming wreck of the lavish ride was documented in photos and videos shared by the Los Angeles Times, which identified the vehicle as a Genesis GV80, citing authorities. Authorities described the SUV as a courtesy car at a Tuesday evening press briefing. According to Genesis, GV80 is its top-of-the-line SUV that starts retailing at nearly $50,000.
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As reported by The Post, Wood was in California over the weekend for the Genesis Invitational golf tournament, and even featured in an Instagram post by the car manufacturer on Saturday. “The man, the myth, the tournament host,” Genesis captioned the photo. The following day, Woods and the GV80 were pictured side by side in another Instagram post, along with tournament winner Max Homa.
“Champion golfer with a champion ride,” Genesis captioned that shot. “Our Genesis Invitational champion @Max.Homa celebrates his astounding victory at The Riviera Country Club alongside tournament host @TigerWoods and Genesis Motor North America CEO Mark Del Rosso.”
It's unclear if the vehicle crashed by Woods was the same one with which he posed in the aforementioned photos. "This morning, Genesis was saddened to learn that Tiger Woods had been in an accident in a GV80," Genesis spokesman Jarred Pellat told USA Today in an email. "Our thoughts and prayers are with Tiger and his family at this time."
The 2021 Genesis GV80 features a "14.5-inch horizontal touchscreen on the center console and an 8-inch digital instrument panel." Furthermore, it boasts "10 airbags, a forward-collision warning system, evasive steering technology," as well as an "interior camera that alerts the driver if they're falling asleep," according to USA Today. Genesis is a luxury brand created by Korean auto giant Hyundai and is lauded for its reliability and craftsmanship, per the outlet.
Earlier today, MEAWW reported how former President Donald J. Trump, who awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Woods following his victory at the Masters' Tournament in 2019, prayed for his speedy recovery after the horrifying crash.
"He has overcome a lot, but he has had an incredible life and he is going to continue to have an incredible life," the 45th POTUS told Fox News Primetime host Katie Pavlich, one of his old golfing pal. "He will recover from this... he will figure out a way," he added. Trump described the timing of the accident as "tragic". "He won the Masters with a bad back which tells you the level of talent is incredible," he said. "And he has been working on that, and then has this happened, it's just tragic, tragic."