Tiger Woods has been hospitalised with “multiple leg injuries” after being involved in a serious car crash in California, according to police.

Fire fighters freed the golfing star from his car using a “jaws of life” tool shortly after 7am on Tuesday in Rancho Palos Verdes, near Los Angeles.

Authorities say that his car, which was the only vehicle involved in the crash, rolled over and sustained “major damage” in the incident.

Footage captured from a helicopter, sent by US network KABC-TV, showed a car on its side with the front end heavily damaged. Air bags appeared to be deployed, while the wreckage appeared to be just off the side of a road on a hillside.

“The driver and sole occupant was identified as PGA golfer, Eldrick ‘Tiger’ Woods,” Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said in a statement.

It added: “Mr Woods was extricated from the wreck with the ‘jaws of life’ by Los Angeles County firefighters and paramedics, then transported to a local hospital by ambulance for his injuries.”