Tiger Out of Top 20 in World Golf Ranking


For the first time since his career began in 1997, Tiger Woods has fallen out of the top 20 in the World Golf Ranking. Woods, who's been recuperating from an injury to left knee and Achilles heel, hasn't played on the PGA Tour since the Players Championship in May.

Woods is currently ranked No. 21. In the latest ranking, Luke Donald retained the top spot and fellow Brit Lee Westwood maintained his No. 2 position. Right behind are Germany's Martin Kaymer and Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy.

Americans Steve Stricker, Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson are in the fifth through seventh slots, while Nos. 8, 9 and 10 are Australian Jason Day, South African Charl Schwartzel and Matt Kuchar, respectively.

With his inability to play in tournaments, Woods now ranks 133rd in the FedEx Cup standings and 107th on the Tour's money list with $571,363 in only four events. His highest finish is a tie for fourth in the Masters.

Woods is expected to, sometime this week, announce when he'll return to competition. It's possible he'll play in the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club, a place where he's logged seven of his 71 career victories on the PGA Tour.

When he does return Woods will have a new caddie. Last week the 14-time major winner dismissed long-time looper Steve Williams, saying, "It's time for a change." Williams had worked for Woods for 12 years and 250 tournaments; the New Zealander was on the bag for 13 of Woods's major titles, which rank second all-time to Jack Nicklaus's 18.

Woods hasn't logged a victory on the PGA Tour since the 2009 BMW Championship. His last win anywhere came in the 2009 Australian Masters.