Tiger Woods won’t have his eyes on the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR), but he is facing the possibility of reaching a brutal career milestone.

As noted by the popular X account @VC606, Woods dropped out of the top 2,000 players in the OWGR as of October 5. In the last two weeks, his ranking has tumbled further to 2,084.

Whilst it’s the 15-time major champion’s lowest ever world ranking, there is another aspect of the drop that is more concerning. There’s a possibility that by the 2026 Masters – likely Woods’ next start – he will have run out of world ranking points completely.

READ: Another twist in the Tiger Woods’ tale, but this must surely be the end, right?

Woods, of course, spent 683 weeks at No. 1 over the course of 13 years, including 281 straight weeks from June 2005 to October 2010.

He was ranked as high as world No. 6 at the end of the 2019 season, but Woods’ ranking dropped during the 2020 season as he dealt with back issues before falling to No. 566 at the end of 2021.

After making only three starts during the 2023 season, the 82-time PGA Tour winner dropped to 1,274 – marking his first time outside of the top 1,000 since 2017.

Woods’ future on the golf course was placed under yet more doubt last week, when he announced he underwent surgery to replace a disk in his back.

“After experiencing pain and lack of mobility in my back, I consulted with doctors and surgeons to have tests taken,” the 49-year-old wrote on X.

“The scans determined that I had a collapsed disc in L4/5, disc fragments and a compromised spinal canal. I opted to have my disc replaced yesterday, and I already know I made a good decision for my health and my back.”

Golf fans know they will at least see Woods on TV at the beginning of January. He also confirmed this week that he’ll attend every Jupiter Links match in the upcoming season of TGL.

“Looking forward to seeing everyone on January 13th for our home opener,” Woods wrote. “And @willlowerygolf, hands off my sticks!”

It’s gotten to a point now where a statement from the Tiger Woods camp should come with an eco-friendly certificate It gets rehashed again and again, after all, and features the recurring theme of an update about surgery on his back.

The other day, an official notification popped up on Tiger’s social media feed informing all and sundry of a procedure that’s become par for the course.

“After experiencing pain and lack of mobility in my back, I consulted with doctors and surgeons to have tests taken,” wrote Woods.

READ: “I’ll Be There For Every Match”: Tiger Woods Confirms He’ll Be At

“The scans determined that I had a collapsed disc in L4/5, disc fragments and a compromised spinal canal. I opted to have my disc replaced yesterday, and I already know I made a good decision for my health and my back.”

Simply reading this brief summing up of affairs is probably enough to bring on a slight twinge.

This was the seventh operation Woods has had on this specific area of his body. The former world No. 1 and 15-time major winner has had so many procedures on his crumbling back, his lumbar spine is just about propped up by a gothic buttress.

A while ago, I spoke to the well-respected Gavin Routledge, the Scotland-based osteopath who has amassed an accumulation of knowledge in his area of expertise that’s so hefty, you could actually put your back out going through it.

“I honestly can’t see a way out for him,” said Routledge, who has been poking, prodding, massaging and manipulating a variety of dodgy dorsals for over 30 years.

“We have known for decades that once you have one disc surgery, then the chances of having another are substantially higher, especially if you use the fusion technique like Tiger. It’s a domino effect.”

Routledge was saying this after Tiger’s fifth back operation. Or it could’ve been his sixth? I’ve lost count.

Woods’ miraculous victory in the 2019 Masters, after all the injuries, setbacks and controversies, was one of the greatest in the history of the game, but what followed has been a deluge of cold, driving reality.

Betrayed by his body, his defiant, ambitious aspirations have remained unattainable.

Woods, who hits the milestone of his half-century at the end of this year and can at least get a buggy if he fancies the senior circuit, has not played in an official tour event since he missed the cut in the 2024 Open at Royal Troon.

A couple of years earlier, at the St. Andrews Open in 2022, many observers and commentators had suggested he should’ve savored a final, hat-waving, dewy-eyed march over the Swilcan Bridge and said farewell to championship golf there and then.

Try telling Tiger that, mind you. Woods and Woods alone will determine the point at which he can operate as nothing more than a recreational golfer. That day, though, inches closer.

While golf has moved on from Woods – Rory McIlroy’s monumental Masters win this year was Tiger-esque in the way it transcended the sport – you often wonder if the game is ready to face the ultimate reality and let him go?

For so long, Woods hasn’t just moved the golfing needle; he has been the needle. The general hoopla created by a will-he, won’t-he comeback, for instance, would send said needle pinging into the red.

In a sense, it’s been golf’s blessing and its curse. The prospect of an appearance by Woods brings exposure like nothing else. But it can also overshadow everything else.

Of course, us lot who cover this game for a living don’t help matters, do we?

Tiger’s various re-emergences tend to get rammed down your throats with such overwhelming and unhinged force, you may as well lie back on a gurney, open your mouth as wide as it will go and allow the entire golf media industry to stampede excitedly down your throat.

Woods has defied the odds before. After this latest surgery on his ailing frame, though, those odds continue to lengthen.

We await the next twist in this Tiger tale.

Tiger Woods’ recent back surgery forced fans to once again postpone their hopes of seeing him play. Woods hadn’t even fully recovered from his torn Achilles tendon when he had to face this new injury.

Woods recently underwent lumbar disc replacement surgery, his seventh back surgical procedure. According to Golfweek, the recovery process could take anywhere from weeks to months. With such prospects, many are wondering when Woods will be able to return to the courses, or even if he will return at all.

Well, the legend has spoken: Woods has circled a date for his return to the golf spotlight, sort of. While he stopped short of confirming a competitive comeback, Woods announced he’ll be present for every Jupiter Links Golf Club match in the upcoming TGL season.

READ: Tiger Woods Urgently Breaks Silence on His Absence Just Days Aft

“I’ll be there for every match! Looking forward to seeing everyone on January 13th for our home opener,” Woods replied on X in response to a previous post by the team.

Woods has not played competitive golf since the start of the season, when he participated in his team’s first TGL matches. In December of last year, he played his most recent tournament on a golf course, finishing second in the PNC Championship, teaming up with his son Charlie.

His last official tournament to date was the 2024 Open Championship, where he missed the cut.

Fans had been excited about Woods’ possible return when videos were released of the 82-time major winner swinging golf clubs ahead of the Nexus Cup last September. He had previously been seen several times walking golf courses, accompanying Charlie at tournaments.

Just a few days ago, the field for the Hero World Challenge was announced, leaving three spots open for sponsor exemptions. It was expected that Woods could fill one of those spots if he completed his recovery from the Achilles tendon injury he suffered last March.

While his recent back surgery rules out any chance of seeing him compete in this year’s event, Woods could still make an appearance in a non-playing role. As tournament host, his presence remains a possibility, and, if his recovery allows, he may even be on hand to present the trophy to the winner.

As for competitive golf, it’s unlikely we’ll see Tiger Woods back on the course before the 2026 Masters, and even that feels optimistic.

Tiger Woods Urgently Breaks Silence on His Absence Just Days After 7th Back Surgery

The TGR Jr Invitational and the Tiger Woods Invitational recently teed off at Pebble Beach Resorts in a heated competition of teeth and class. The juniors set off from October 11-13, while the pro golfers hit the clubs from October 13-15. However, despite the thrilling atmosphere, fans couldn’t help but feel the stinging absence of Tiger Woods. Addressing the fans’ disappointment, Woods recently released a statement on X.

Tiger Woods acknowledged his absence, saying he wanted to participate but his body had other plans. After undergoing lumbar disc replacement surgery last Friday, he’s now focused on recovery and rehabilitation. Expressing gratitude to fellow competitors and partners, Woods wrote on X:

“Wish I could be at Pebble Beach this week for the TGR JR Invitational and Tiger Woods Invitational. I want to thank our presenting partners, @TaylorMadeGolf and USLI. To the 60 junior golfers – keep pushing yourselves on and off the course. And to our TWI guests, thank you for your continued support of the event and the @TGRFound.”

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The 49-year-old golf veteran revealed severe spinal pain and limited mobility after years of wear and injuries. Diagnosed with a collapsed L4/5 disc and fragments, Woods chose disc replacement surgery, calling it the right move for his long-term health.

However, the surgery will keep him out of competitive and even casual golf for an indefinite period. The recovery can take anywhere between 6-12 months, and rehab can stretch further. Despite facing his own struggles and setbacks, Woods extended his support to the juniors and the TWI guests. This goes on to show the golfing legend’s people-first personality. That attitude of Woods’ comes through in his initiatives like the TGR JR Invitational and the TGI.

Tiger Woods’ recent surgery marks his seventh back procedure since 2014, following several microdiscectomies and a spinal fusion that set the stage for his iconic 2019 Masters comeback. Unlike fusion, disc replacement helps maintain motion between vertebrae, giving Woods new optimism for a pain-free return to the game.

The Tiger Woods Junior Invitational welcomes 60 young golfers — 30 boys and 30 girls — across age groups of 10–12, 13–15, and 16–18 for an exciting competition at Pebble Beach. The event spans from The Hay to The Links at Spanish Bay, showcasing talented young players from around the world. Beyond the competition, it provides meaningful exposure and connects participants with the Tiger Woods Foundation’s mission of education and opportunity.

In contrast, the TGI offers a luxurious three-day golf experience designed for guests and donors. It blends friendly competition and world-class play with premium accommodations, featuring rounds at Pebble Beach Golf Links, Spyglass Hill, and The Links at Spanish Bay. More importantly, the event serves as a major fundraiser for the TGR Foundation, supporting programs that empower youth through education and mentorship.

Tiger Woods’ impact through the TGR Foundation

The TGR JR Invitational was the epitome of a junior event, where competition and learning met. Not only did it bring the golfing world’s top youth together in a showdown of talent and teeth, but it also provided essential learning and STEAM influence on the young golfers. With initiatives like the TaylorMade science & STEAM activation, the event integrated science with golf.

The players learned to apply physics to golf, understanding crucial topics such as slope, wind, and distance. The juniors also received custom tournament gear and TaylorMade Spider Tour putters.

Beyond golf, the TGR Foundation doubles as an education lab and fundraiser, empowering youth through STEM and career programs. With Learning Labs in Anaheim, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C., it has reached over 217,000 students.

In partnership with Discovery Education, the foundation continues expanding its global digital learning initiatives for underserved communities.

The 2023–24 TGR Foundation Annual Report highlighted significant growth, reaching 9,545 students through its educational programs. Of those served, 89% felt better prepared for their career goals, and 68% reported greater confidence in their skills.

With 7,688 students in Anaheim and 1,841 in Philadelphia, plus 516 educators trained nationwide, the Foundation continues to serve across the country. It has expanded access to quality STEM and career education for under-resourced youth across the U.S.

The TGI also serves a crucial role in the foundation’s growth. TGR reports that its live events have raised over $113 million to date, all proceeds going to the foundation. With the influence and financial impact of TGI guests, these events set a milestone in serving underprivileged youth across the world.