Tiger Woods Falls to Worst Official World Golf Ranking, Rory McIlroy Still No. 1

Fresh off withdrawing from his third event in the last calendar year due to back pain, Tiger Woods has hit a new career low. The former World No. 1 fell to 62nd in the latest World Golf Rankings, which is his worst mark since the year he joined the PGA Tour, 1996. 

Kelly Tilghman of Golf Channel highlighted Woods' descent, while also providing her thoughts on Woods' chances of playing at the Masters:

Woods, 39, withdrew on the 12th hole of his first round at last week's Farmers Insurance Open. In so much pain at points that he could not even pick up his tee, he was two over when he walked off the course for good, having double-bogeyed his previous hole.

"Then I got cold standing out there and everything started deactivating again," Woods told reporters, referring to fog-related delays. "It's frustrating that I just can't stay active. That's just the way it is. We usually don't have to wait like this back home practicing. You can keep going and going. My glutes are shutting off and they don't activate."

Woods missed the cut two weeks ago at the Waste Management Phoenix Open, his first competitive tournament in nearly two months. The back injury limited him to seven tournaments in 2014. He's played four full rounds in a competition once since July.

Rory McIlroy remains No. 1 in the world. McIlroy holds a massive lead of more than four points on No. 2 Henrik Stenson. It is especially difficult to envision Woods catching McIlroy given how impressive McIlroy has performed recently. 

Until Woods can maintain his health and regain his form seen earlier in this career, he will have a difficult time competing throughout the year with the best in the world. 

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