(REUTERS)-Tiger Woods has plummeted to depths he has not reached in 15 years as he dropped two spots to 51st in the world rankings.
The former world number one has not triumphed anywhere since the 2009 Australian Masters and has been steadily losing ranking points because of his struggles on and off the course.
In yesterday’s rankings, Woods is sandwiched by Australia’s Aaron Baddeley (in 50th) and fellow American Jonathan Byrd (52nd), the first time he has been out of the top 50 since he was 61st on October 13, 1996.
Ever since his private life unravelled in sensational fashion at the end of 2009 and he tried to repair his crumbling marriage, Woods has been a shadow of the dominant player he once was.
It has been just over three years since Woods clinched the last of his 14 major titles and he has not competed on the US PGA Tour since missing the cut at the US PGA Championship in August.
However, Woods will return to the US circuit for next week’s Frys.com Open at CordeValle Golf Club in San Martin, California, his first ever appearance in the US PGA Tour’s Fall Series.