Tiger Woods has slumped to his lowest-ever world ranking after the horror crash that threatened to end his career.
Woods continues to recover from the high speed single vehicle crash in February 2021 that almost left him unable to walk. The 15-time major champion suffered multiple leg breaks and needed emergency surgery after the incident which shocked the sport.
The 46-year-old has since returned to tournament golf, albeit sporadically amid serious doubts he would never compete in a professional event again. He made a remarkable return to action at this year's US Masters, more incredibly making the cut despite visibly struggling with mobility on the iconic fairways of Augusta National.
Woods was then forced to withdraw from the third round of the PGA Championship in his next appearance, as high discomfort levels showed in Oklahoma.
And he is yet to compete after making an emotional farewell to the Old Course, the scene of two of his most major memorable victories, at the 150th Open Championship at St. Andrews in July.
Woods was teary as he received a magical ovation walking up the 18th, after failing to produce the quality of golf required to make the weekend cut. And given his limited schedule with just nine completed rounds in 2022 during his fitness battle, Woods has seen his world ranking plummet.
The 82-time PGA Tour winner, who once held the world No.1 position for 683 consecutive weeks, has now fallen to 1,206th in the updated Official World Golf Rankings. It is career low for Woods, who has dropped over 600 places from his 2021 ranking.
His previous low ranking was No.1199 at the end of 2017 when he required surgery to alleviate crippling back and leg pain. Woods then made one of the great sporting comebacks to return to Masters glory in 2019. But whilst he can never truly be written off, yet another resurgence to the winners' circle appears more improbable than ever.
It still remains unclear when Woods will make his next tournament appearance, three months after he said goodbye to St. Andrews.
But NBC golf analyst and close friend Notah Begay has tipped the American to feature at the PNC Championship in December alongside his son Charlie.
“Tiger's just steadily trying to find ways to get a little bit more stability in his leg," said Begay. "It was really presenting some major challenges at St. Andrews.
“He added: "We might see him one time this fall. He might surprise everybody.”
