Tiger Woods was last ranked world number one in May 2014

Tiger Woods has dropped out of the world's top 100 golfers for the first time in his career.

The 14-time major winner, who first moved into the top 100 in 1996 and then spent a cumulative record 683 weeks as world number one, has dropped to 104.

The 39-year-old American has not played since withdrawing from the Farmers Insurance Open on 6 February.

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

BBC Sport golf correspondent Iain Carter "Tumbling out of the top 100 was inevitable given Woods' lack of golf in recent times. The biggest concern is that he has not felt able to compete in recent weeks and we still don't know whether he will be back for the Masters. For many players a slide down the rankings can be ruinous because a fall in standing limits playing opportunities. Woods' glorious career provides a degree of immunity from this potentially vicious circle and he won't struggle for events to enter when and if he feels ready to return."

After withdrawing from February's event at Torrey Pines with back problems, Woods announced he would be taking an indefinite break from the sport, 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 won't return until he can "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 following week, he jumped to 75th by winning the Las Vegas Invitational as a 20-year-old for the first of his 79 PGA Tour victories.

Woods first become world number one after finishing 19th at the 1997 US Open.