Tiger Woods is one of the most celebrated golfers in history with 15 majors to his name, a feat many could never even dream of – let alone store all of the titles in their trophy cabinet.
But the American icon has reached a career-low point in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR), and the trajectory shows it could get even steeper if he remains sidelined.
The 50-year-old, who has battled numerous injuries since his near-fatal car crash in 2021, hasn’t played a competitive round since the 2024 Open Championship at Royal Troon, where he missed the cut by 12 shots following a second-round 77.
In a professional career spanning nearly three decades, Woods has accumulated 110 victories, including 82 PGA Tour titles – a record he shares with Sam Snead – and 15 major championships.
He also held the No.1 spot in the OWGR for a total of 683 weeks, more than double the second-place holder, Greg Norman.
Injuries take their toll
Yet, after years of dominance, the impact of injuries has pushed him to a staggering 2,590th in the world rankings – the lowest mark of his career.
“Tiger Woods will become unranked in Week 29, 2026,” OWGR officials confirmed, marking a historic low for the 50-year-old.
Week 29 coincides with the 154th Open at Royal Birkdale, underscoring the unfortunate timing for the golfing icon.
The OWGR operates on a two-year ranking period, meaning that if Woods does not compete in an affiliated event before then, he will be removed from the rankings entirely.
Since his crash in 2021, Woods has struggled to regain fitness and form. He has only made the weekend on three occasions: the 2022 Masters, the Genesis Invitational, and the 2024 Masters.
At the start of 2025, he ruptured his Achilles, further delaying any potential return. With no confirmed timetable for resuming competition, the possibility of missing the Open entirely looms large, threatening to erase his presence from the sport he defined for generations.
A remarkable rise to secure an untouchable legacy
For perspective, when Woods first entered the OWGR at 730th in 1994, few could have predicted the heights he would reach.
Following his 12-shot victory at the 1997 Masters, he ascended into the top 10 for the first time and became No.1 just two months later.
Today, the current No.1, Scottie Scheffler, would need to remain at the top for more than 546 weeks to match Woods‘s record of weeks at No.1.
Despite this unprecedented low, Woods‘s legacy is secure. His career accomplishments remain unmatched by any modern player, and his influence on the game is enduring.
Yet, the looming milestone of being unranked highlights the stark reality facing the golf icon: time and injuries are now forcing a reckoning with the possibility that his competitive career may be nearing its final chapter.
As fans await news of his next steps, all eyes remain on whether Woods can once again defy the odds, compete at an OWGR-affiliated event, and maintain his place among the sport’s elite, even as his farewell to professional golf draws ever closer.
Read the full article here
