Woods drops out of world's top 100 for first time since 1996

Former world number one golfer Tiger Woods has dropped out of the world's top 100 for the first time in his career since 1996.

Woods, who spent a cumulative record 683 weeks as world number one, has dropped to 104 in the world rankings, having not played since withdrawing from the Farmers Insurance Open on 6 February.

Woods has said that he is hopeful of a return for the first major of the year, the Masters, starting on 9 April, the BBC reported.

Following his withdrawal from February's event at Torrey Pines due to back problems, Woods had announced that he would be taking an indefinite break from golf, describing his performances this year as unacceptable for tournament play.

Woods, who carded an 82 at the Phoenix Open in January - his worst round as a professional, added that he wouldn't return until he could compete at the highest level.

The last time Woods was outside the top 100 in the world was in September 1996 when he was ranked equal 221 and on his climb to the top, the report added.