What Rank Is Tiger Woods in the World? Current PGA Tour Standing and Career Context

As of February 2026, Tiger Woods is not ranked in the official World Golf Rankings. He hasn’t played a full PGA Tour event since 2020, and his last competitive round was at the 2023 Masters, where he missed the cut. His official world ranking is listed as unranked-not because he’s fallen out of the top 1000, but because he no longer meets the minimum playing requirements to maintain a ranking.

Why Tiger Woods Doesn’t Have a Current World Rank

The Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) doesn’t just track who’s good-it tracks who’s playing. To stay ranked, a golfer must compete in a minimum number of sanctioned events over a rolling two-year window. The system is designed to reflect current form, not past glory. Even legends like Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer dropped off the list after they stopped competing regularly.

Tiger Woods has played only five PGA Tour events since 2021. His last official start was at the 2023 Genesis Invitational, where he withdrew after 18 holes due to back pain. Without enough rounds to qualify, his ranking was removed. That doesn’t mean he’s forgotten. It just means the system doesn’t have enough data to place him.

His Last Official Ranking

Tiger Woods last held an official world ranking in December 2020, when he was ranked 474th. That number might seem low, but it’s important context: he’d just returned from a major car accident in February 2021 and had only played three tournaments since January 2020. Before that, his ranking had been falling steadily since 2018, when he was still trying to return to form after multiple back surgeries.

Before his injuries, Tiger was the undisputed #1 in the world for 685 weeks total-the most in history. He held the top spot from August 1999 to September 2004, then again from 2005 to 2010. At his peak, he won 14 major championships and had a winning percentage over 25% in PGA Tour events. No one else comes close.

What the Rankings Don’t Show

The OWGR doesn’t measure legacy, influence, or cultural impact. Tiger Woods changed golf forever. He brought in global audiences, boosted TV ratings by 300% during his prime, and inspired a generation of players-many of whom now dominate the tour. Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, and Scottie Scheffler have all said they started playing golf because of him.

Even without a ranking, Tiger’s name still moves markets. His appearance at the 2022 Masters drew more viewers than the entire 2022 U.S. Open. His foundation has donated over $100 million to youth golf programs. And his design firm, TGR Design, has built more than 30 golf courses worldwide, including the popular TGR Learning Lab in Anaheim.

Can He Return to Competitive Play?

There’s no official announcement, but Tiger has hinted at limited returns. In interviews, he’s said he wants to play the Masters one more time. That’s his goal-just one more round at Augusta. He’s been practicing at his private course in Jupiter, Florida, and has been seen hitting balls on the range with his son, Charlie.

But the reality is clear: his body can’t handle the grind of a full PGA Tour schedule. He’s had four back surgeries, multiple knee operations, and a leg injury from the 2021 car crash that still limits his mobility. Even if he played a few events next year, he’d need to finish in the top 10 to earn enough points to re-enter the rankings. That’s unlikely.

How the World Ranking System Works

The OWGR calculates rankings based on performance over the past two years. Points are awarded based on field strength, tournament prestige, and finishing position. Winning a major gives you 100 points. Winning a regular PGA Tour event gives 40-60, depending on the field. If you miss cuts, you earn zero.

The system is brutal. A player who misses 10 cuts in a year will drop out fast-even if they were once #1. That’s why players like Phil Mickelson and Ernie Els also lost their rankings after stepping back from full-time play.

Where Tiger Stands Compared to Other Legends

Jack Nicklaus never held the #1 spot in the OWGR because the system didn’t exist until 1986. He was 46 when it launched. Arnold Palmer never ranked #1 either. But Tiger did-consistently-for over a decade.

Today’s top players-Scheffler, Rahm, and Xander Schauffele-are all ranked in the top 10. They play 20+ events a year. They earn 1,000+ points annually. Tiger hasn’t played enough to earn a single point in over four years.

Still, if you asked 100 golfers who the greatest of all time is, 95 would say Tiger. Rankings measure activity. Legacy measures impact.

What’s Next for Tiger Woods?

Tiger’s future isn’t on the leaderboard. It’s in the stands, the design studio, and the classroom. He’s focused on growing the game through his foundation, mentoring young players, and building courses that are accessible to underserved communities. He’s also working on a memoir, set to release in late 2026.

He may never play another official tournament. But when the next generation of golfers stands on the 18th green at Augusta, they’ll still be chasing the ghost of Tiger Woods. And that’s a ranking no algorithm can measure.