Struggling Tiger Woods hits all-time career low with unwanted milestone
Golf legend Tiger Woods has seen his official world ranking drop to an all-time low owing to his lengthy injury lay-off, with the 49-year-old not expected back anytime soon
Tiger Woods has seen his ranking reach an all-time low as a result of his hiatus from golf due to injury, it has emerged. The 15-time major winner has not played since failing to make the cut at The Open last July.
Woods, 49, is currently sidelined after suffering a ruptured Achilles tendon and is unsure when he will be able to resume the dazzling career that has solidified him as one of the sport's all-time greats. But his enforced absence has not stopped him from tumbling down the rankings.
Woods' latest Official World Golf Ranking is 1,341. This is his lowest career ranking, with his previous low (1,328) coming back in November 2023 after spending the majority of the year out.
Things could yet get worse, though, with Woods' latest issue expected to keep him out for the remainder of 2025, meaning his ranking will continue to drop lower.
Woods announced his latest injury setback shortly before The Masters, which saw Rory McIlroy complete the career Grand Slam. He has since undergone surgery to repair a rupture, which was confirmed in an official statement.
He said last month: "As I began to ramp up my own training and practice at home, I felt a sharp pain in my left Achilles, which was deemed to be ruptured.
"This morning, Dr. Charlton Stucken of Hospital for Special Surgery in West Palm Beach, Florida performed a minimally-invasive Achilles tendon repair for a ruptured tendon.
"I am back home now and plan to focus on my recovery and rehab, thank you for all the support."
Woods' last appearance at Tour-level was last summer, when headed to Royal Troon for The Open. Back surgery was behind his absence before the death of his mother saw him withdraw from the Genesis Invitational back in February.
His back surgery was his sixth in 10 years. He suffered extensive injuries following a horror car crash in 2021, just two years after he shocked the world to win a fifth Masters title back in 2019.
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Reuters
20 minutes ago
- Reuters
It's a privilege to make history with you, Alcaraz tells Sinner
PARIS, June 8 (Reuters) - French Open champion Carlos Alcaraz praised his rival Jannik Sinner after their burgeoning rivalry offered the Roland Garros crowd a vintage final clash at Roland Garros on Sunday. Spain's Alcaraz retained his title after saving three match points to beat world number one Sinner 4-6 6-7(4) 6-4 7-6(3) 7-6(10-2) in the longest French Open final since tennis turned professional in 1968 - a battle lasting five hours 29 minutes. "I am pretty sure you are going to be champion not once, but many, many times. It is a privilege to share the court with you in every tournament," Alcaraz said on court after ending Sinner's 20-match winning streak at Grand Slams. "I am just really, really happy to be able to make history with you in this tournament, in other tournaments; you are a huge inspiration to young kids and to me." Alcaraz has now won his five Grand Slam finals and handed Sinner his first defeat in a major final after the Italian claimed his first three at the Australian Open (2024 and 2025) and U.S. Open (2024). Alcaraz thanked the court Philippe Chatrier crowd for their support, which he said helped him throughout the tournament. "Then Paris, guys, I mean, you have been a really important support to me since the first practice, since the first round," he said. "You were unbelievable. You were insane for me. I mean, I just can't, can't thank enough, you know, to you for the great support during the whole week, for today's match. "For today's match, you were really, really important. You are in my heart and you'll always be in my heart. So thank you. Thank you very much, Paris. And see you next year."
Metro
22 minutes ago
- Metro
Carlos Alcaraz stuns tennis legends with historic French Open final win
Tennis icons were quick to hail champion Carlos Alcaraz and runner-up Jannik Sinner after their historic French Open final. The 22-year-old Spaniard fought back from two sets down to win 4-6 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (10-2), saving three championship points in the fourth set. The epic contest lastet five hours and 29 minutes, making it the longest final ever at Roland Garros. The Italian will have to wait for a first French Open title while Alcaraz defended the trophy in Paris to win his second and take his Grand Slam tally to five. Unsurprisingly his legendary compatriot and the former King of Clay, Rafael Nadal, was quick to congratulate the winner but also hail the brilliant runner-up. Nadal posted on X: 'What an incredible @rolandgarros final! 🔥. Congratulations @carlosalcaraz! 🏆💪🏼. Congrats also @janniksin for the great battle 👏🏻.' Three-time French Open champ Mats Wilander said on TNT Sports: 'Absolutely incredible. The expectations are really high when these guys face off because they've played some incredible matches 'Every match they play is so brutally physical, it's emotional, the tennis they're playing is unbelievable. 'The fact they can keep going for 5-and-a-half hours on a clay court at this level, because the level at the end was absolutely ridiculous. I cannot believe how lucky we are that we're going to have this rivalry. 'These guys have taken our sport to another level. I never thought I would say that after the big three of Rafa, Roger and Novak, it's hard to believe they can do this.' Greg Rusedski declared the match the greatest Grand Slam final he has ever witnessed, saying on BBC Radio 5: 'We said it was going to be a classic – and it really was. 'It is the greatest Grand Slam final I've ever seen. 'The emotion from Carlos Alcaraz is just unbelievable. He is down there hugging his mum, his dad and his brother. 'Let's spare a thought for Jannik Sinner though. This must be immensely painful, having had those three championship points. He is handling the situation very well but this must be a bitter disappointment for him.' More Trending Former US Open champion Marin Cilic praised the immense standard on show, posting on social media: 'One of the best 5th sets ever alongside Federer vs Nadal '08 Wimbledon + Djok vs Nadal AO 2012? Unbelievable level.' Speaking on court after his immense triumph, Alcaraz said: 'I want to start with Jannik. It is amazing the level you have, congratulations for an amazing tournament to you and your team. 'I know the hard work you put in. I know how hard you are chasing every tournament. I am sure you will be champion many, many times and it is a privilege to share the court with you and making history with you. 'I'm just really happy to be able to make history with you in this tournament, in other tournaments, you are a huge inspiration for everyone and myself. Good luck and all the best for what is coming.' MORE: Jannik Sinner reacts to heartbreaking French Open final defeat to Carlos Alcaraz MORE: England v Senegal odds: Three Lions must respond to Thomas Tuchel's criticism after poor show against Andorra MORE: Coco Gauff secures French Open title with epic comeback win over Aryna Sabalenka
The Independent
26 minutes ago
- The Independent
How Carlos Alcaraz broke his own limits - and Jannik Sinner - to win astonishing French Open final
In his ascent to becoming a four-time grand slam champion at the age of 22, there was one thing that Carlos Alcaraz had yet to manage: in eight attempts, the Spaniard had never before come from two sets down to win a match. He had certainly never come from three championship points down. As Jannik Sinner, the World No 1, stood on the brink of extending his winning streak to a third grand slam title, the odds of Alcaraz beating his young rival looked impossible. But Alcaraz held a super-power up his sleeve: in an astonishing, five-hour, 29-minute epic, the deeper the trouble Alcaraz faced, the higher the level he produced, and the further he soared. When Sinner stood with three championship points in the fourth set, at 5-3 0-40 on the Alcaraz serve, the Spaniard licked his lips, wiped his brow, and got to work. He saved all three, whipping his arms and roaring around Court Philippe-Chatrier - alive. And from being that close to defeat against the dominant World No 1, Alcaraz pulled off his most astonishing escape yet, winning 4-6 6-7 6-4 7-6 7-6 (10-2) in a match tiebreak to end one of the greatest grand slam finals ever played. He defended his Roland Garros crown on the Paris clay, winning his fifth grand slam title while, somehow, remaining undefeated in major finals. He did so after saving those three Championship points, then as Sinner served for his third consecutive grand slam, and then as he raced away with a one-sided final tiebreak. Funnily enough, Alcaraz had already told us how this French Open final would unfold. A month ago, just after he had defeated Sinner to win the Italian Open in Rome, Alcaraz told the world where any match against Sinner was going to be won and lost. 'If I don't play at my best, 10 out of 10, it's going to be impossible to beat him,' Alcaraz said. This was a final that was decided by surges: Sinner hitting the front, Alcaraz roaring back, Sinner raising his level again. When Alcaraz faced the end in the fourth set but stayed alive, that, right there, was when the Spaniard's dial hit the red and exploded off the charts. Because when Alcaraz opened his wings and locked in, there was nothing Sinner could do to stop him. He won 15 of the final 19 points in the match against the top seed, going from 15-30 as Alcaraz served at 5-6 in the final set, to 10-2 in the championship tiebreak, all while hitting an extraordinary series of shots that had Court Philippe-Chatrier losing its mind; leaving reasonable, measured people screaming with their head in their hands. That is the irresistible, unstoppable power of Alcaraz: from the dipping backhand winner crosscourt to reach the tiebreak, the plucked volley on the run in the decider, and the backhand down the line that left Sinner standing helplessly with his hands on his hips. Then, on match point, the forehand winner down the line before dropping to the clay. On the other side of the net, the 23-year-old Sinner suffered what is by far the most painful defeat of his life. The sport's undisputed, unflinching No 1, who had smothered and subdued Alcaraz and his shot-making to take a two-set lead, was instead dragged into the depths of a fight that he was not prepared for. But, to his immense credit, Sinner did not sink. Even when he looked broken, with his legs pulled from underneath him, Sinner levelled the fifth set as Alcaraz served for the title, the astonishing drama continuing. And yet, Sinner who lost in a grand slam final for the first time, has now lost all seven matches he had played that have gone over the four-hour distance. Alcaraz won the match when he forced him to go there, with Alcaraz now also winning five matches in a row against his young rival, but how he even got to the fifth will defy belief. Cornered, Alcaraz came out swinging bigger than before, forcing Sinner into three consecutive forehand misses on the three championship points, the first long, the second into the net out right, the third into the middle of the net. From 0-40 down, Alcaraz won 12 of the next 13 points, breaking Sinner to love when he served for the title at 5-4. Ruthlessly, when Sinner was at his most vulnerable, Alcaraz crushed his resilience with a series of drop shots that sucked the soul from the Italian. At the same time, Alcaraz plugged his electric spark into the crowd and conducted them into a frenzy: alternating from either standing like a statue, with his finger to his ear, or dancing around the back of the court like a prize fighter in the ring. When Alcaraz was on a surge, t here is nothing else like him. In the third-set tiebreak, he went from 0-2 down to 7-1. For the first time in the match, he hit back-to-back aces, painting the lines on both sides. And yet, Sinner did not allow Alcaraz to pull away. He had two break points as Alcaraz served at 2-1, but the Spaniard held in a 10-minute game. It is highly unusual to see Sinner show signs of frustration on the court, but there was nowhere for the Italian to hide as Alcaraz pulled off another delicate drop shot to force his heavy legs into another sprint from the baseline. Alcaraz had been a break down in the third, too. Importantly, even though he had lost the second-set tiebreak, Alcaraz had managed to find a groove for the first time in the final and returned there to dig in his claws and pull himself back into the match. With Sinner serving at 4-5, Alcaraz then played his best return game of the match to win four consecutive points against the Sinner serve, sending the Italian left and right and then moving through the court to dispatch the volley. While he had never come from two sets down in his young career, Alcaraz had battled over the five-set distance numerous times, compiling an outstanding record when matches have gone over the four-hour mark, including to win last year's French Open final against Alexander Zverev. Even at 22, his fifth-set record is already outstanding, and Alcaraz jumped into the lead when he broke Sinner in the third game. But the jeopardy of the final set became clear when Sinner broke to level the set as Alcaraz served for the title. Sinner somehow reached an Alcaraz drop shot, flicking the pick-up over the net. As the clock ticked to five hours, Alcaraz netted and Sinner, incredibly, was back within a game of it, then within two points as he got to 15-30 and deuce. But Alcaraz had already survived. For one last time, he took off towards the finish line, and did not look back.
