Tiger Woods Is Back Watching Golf on TV, Thanks Fans During 'Tough Time'

Tiger Woods has thanked his fellow professional golfers for donning his signature colours in a show of support at what he called a "tough time" since his car crash.

Players wore red shirts and black trousers at the WGC-Workday Championship in Bradenton, Florida, on Sunday—the day Woods traditionally wears the colours.

The 45-year-old said he was able to watch television coverage of the event as he continues his recovery at the specialist Cedars-Sinai (CSMC), where he was moved to on Friday after initially being treated at Harbor-UCLA near to the crash site.

In his first public comment since his horrific car crash, Woods said: "It is hard to explain how touching today was when I turned on the TV and saw all the red shirts. To every golfer and every fan, you are truly helping me get through this tough time."

Former World No. 1, Rory McIlroy was among those who wore the red and black.

"I guess for us it's just a gesture to let him know that we're thinking about him and we're rooting for him," he said.

"Things are looking a little better today than they were on Tuesday, but he's still got a ways to go. If there was no Tiger Woods, I just think the tour and the game of golf, in general, would be in a worse place. He's meant a lot to us, he still does mean a lot to us."

The golfing legend will continue his recovery at CSMC after he underwent surgery on his leg following his car accident in Ranchos Palos Verdes, California on February 23.

He is expected to face a long period recovering from his injuries and had been healing from his fifth back surgery. He had hoped to compete in the Masters in April, but his pathway to recovery has now taken a major setback.

Dr Anish Mahajan, who looked after Woods' at Harbor UCLA, has said that the golfer had "multiple open fractures" to his right leg that required screws and pins to be inserted in his ankle.

"Comminuted open fractures affecting both the upper and lower portions of the tibia and fibula bones were stabilized by inserting a rod into the tibia," he said on Wednesday.

"Additional injuries to the bones of the foot and ankle were stabilized 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."

Woods will not face criminal charges over the crash, the Los Angeles County Sheriff said last week, adding that he was "not drunk" at the wheel and that it had been an "accident."

No other drivers were involved in the crash.