The illustrious career of Tiger Woods faces a new and unprecedented challenge, as the golfing icon is reportedly on the verge of being removed from the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) system altogether.
The Looming Deadline for a Golf Legend
According to a report by Today's Golfer, Woods is set to become unranked 'in Week 29, 2026'. This pivotal date coincides with the weekend of the 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. The mechanism behind this potential erasure is the OWGR's two-year 'ranking period'. Simply put, if a player does not participate in an eligible event within that window, their ranking expires.
For Woods, the clock is ticking loudly. He has not struck a competitive shot in a professional tournament since the second round of the 2024 Open Championship at Royal Troon. His last appearance in a final round was at The Masters in 2024, and his most recent top-ten finish stretches all the way back to a tied-ninth place at the Farmers Insurance Open in 2020.
A Staggering Fall from Grace
This extended absence, fuelled by a series of debilitating injuries and surgeries, has precipitated a dramatic slide down the rankings. Woods has plummeted to a career-low position of 2,590th on the OWGR list. However, it is not this record-low mark that threatens his status, but the impending total removal from the database for inactivity.
The pathway back onto the ranking is theoretically straightforward but physically demanding for the 15-time major champion. To reset the two-year clock, Woods would need to tee it up in any OWGR-affiliated competition. This includes the four major championships, a regular PGA Tour event, or even a tournament on the senior Champions Tour.
Recovery Hints But No Firm Return Date
There have been glimmers of hope regarding his physical condition. ESPN reported in late November that Woods was seen chipping and putting, signalling ongoing rehabilitation efforts. Yet, a concrete timeline for a return to elite competition remains conspicuously absent, with the next Masters Tournament now just approximately three months away.
The potential removal of Tiger Woods from the world ranking would mark a symbolic low in a career defined by unprecedented highs. It underscores the severe impact of his physical struggles and poses a humbling question about the future competitive prospects of one of sport's most dominant figures.
