Report: Brutal reality check looms for Tiger Woods at 2026 Open

No matter which way you try and spin it, the last few years for Tiger Woods have been brutal. 

The 15-time major champ was involved in a near fatal car crash in February 2021 and has since battled injuries and inconsistency. He's even had further surgeries on his back and both ankles.

Woods, now 50 and eligible for the PGA Tour Champions, has been reduced to a handful of appearance in the majors since he crashed his luxury Genesis SUV in the Los Angeles hills. 

In total, the 82-time PGA Tour winner has only teed it up in eight majors since that day - making only two cuts (2022 Masters, 2024 Masters). 

The lack of competitive action means Woods has plummeted to 2,590th in the Official World Golf Ranking. It is his lowest ever. 

He was ranked 730th when he turned professional, entered the top 10 after his historic 1997 Masters triumph and two months later was the world number one for the first time. 

According to a report by TG, the situation could get a whole lot worse for Woods if the golfer doesn't tee it up in an OWGR-accredited event before the 2026 Open Championship. 

Should Woods be prevented from teeing it up before golf's oldest major heads to Royal Birkdale this July, he will become "unranked in Week 29, 2026". 

Although this could become a reality, the chances are that Woods will play before then. 

He told reporters before the Hero World Challenge in December that he has been given clearance to chip and putt again and would like to take part in season two of TGL before the end of the season. 

Woods did not outline a timeline for a return. Asked by a reporter about his schedule, Woods joked that he was planning on playing at least 25 tournaments, including the majors and senior majors. 

Tiger Woods laments slow recovery

Woods has kept a low profile since he confirmed last March that he would miss the 2025 Masters Tournament because he ruptured his Achilles tendon. 

He had further surgery last October to replace a disc in his lower back after experiencing pain and discomfort. 

It was his seventh back procedure in the past decade. 

Speaking to media in the Bahamas, Woods lamented the slow recovery process.

"It's not as fast as I'd like it to be," Woods said. "It was a good thing to do, something I needed to happen, it just takes time and dedication to the rehab process.

"Unfortunately I've been through this rehab process before and it's step-by-step.

"It's been six weeks last Friday [since the operation] and it's been slow.

"You can't really do much with a disc replacement, now we have the OK to start cranking it up in the gym and start strengthening."

He added: "Unfortunately I've been through this rehab process before and it's step-by-step.

"It's been six weeks last Friday [since the operation] and it's been slow.

"You can't really do much with a disc replacement, now we have the OK to start cranking it up in the gym and start strengthening."

Asked why he was attempting to make another comeback after so many injuries, Woods said it was his down to his passion just to play the game. 

"I haven't done that in a long time and it's been a tough year," Woods added.

"I've had to sit on the sidelines for a number of months of this year and the end of last year.

"I'd like to come back to just playing golf again."

Former Ryder Cup captain makes interesting Woods prediction

It is not surprising in the least that plenty of Woods' fans want the golfer to play senior golf now that he is eligible and can use a golf cart if he wishes. 

Ernie Els goaded Woods last year, daring the hall of famer to try and beat them again "if you can". 

Former United States Ryder Cup captain believes Woods will definitely make his PGA Tour Champions debut in 2026. 

And he also believes we will see more of Woods than anticipated.

Wadkins told Golfweek he reckons Woods' 2026 schedule will include three of the men's majors and all of the senior majors too. 

He said he expected Woods to play at Firestone (site of the Kaulig Companies Championship) and also the Hoag Classic given Woods he grew up "right across the street".

Woods was also recently spotted with a new Insperity logo on his shirt, meaning it's likely that he'll play the Insperity Invitational in Houston.