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Woods out of golf's top 100 for first time since '96

The 39-year-old golfer is currently ranked No. 104.

By Doug G. Ware
Tiger Woods bows his head after his tee shot on the first hole of the Waste Management Phoenix Open in Scottsdale, Arizona, January 29, 2015. Photo: Art Foxall/UPI
Tiger Woods bows his head after his tee shot on the first hole of the Waste Management Phoenix Open in Scottsdale, Arizona, January 29, 2015. Photo: Art Foxall/UPI | License Photo

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla., March 30 (UPI) -- Tiger Woods is no longer considered one of the best 100 pro golfers in the world.

For the first time since he was barely a professional golfer at age 20, Woods fell outside the Official World Golf Ranking's top 100 Monday. The California-born golfer, who has spent much of his career at No. 1, was absent from the list for the first time since he was about a month into his pro career.

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Woods is instead parked at No. 104, eight spots behind last week's ranking. But it could actually be a lot worse. If Woods hadn't played at the end of 2013, and accumulated rankings points, he would now be ranked somewhere in the 300s.

Woods last played in the Waste Management Phoenix Open on Feb. 2, where he was cut after the first two rounds. The last time he passed the cut was mid-December at the Hero World Challenge.

However, Yahoo! Sports reports, Woods continues to work on his golf game at a Florida country club and acquaintances say he looks pretty good.

It remains to be seen, though, whether Woods will play in the Masters starting April 9.

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In his 19-year pro career, Woods has won 14 major titles, which is second all-time behind Jack Nicklaus. His last week at No. 1 came in May 2014. Since that time, he has continued to drop in the rankings.

At age 39, as is the case with most golfers as they get older, Woods is experiencing a career decline. He hasn't won a major tournament since 2008 and endured a two-year period when he didn't win any tournament between 2009 and 2011.

Woods had been included in the OWGF's top 100 since Sept. 28, 1996.

Earlier this month, it was reported that Woods may have been suspended by the PGA for failing a drug test. However, those allegations were later denied by Woods and the PGA.

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