(Image source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

BY SAM KOROTKIN

ANCHOR MEGAN MURPHY

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Tiger Woods has spent the last two years in life's sand trap. Now, he's back on the fairway but out of the top 50.

Woods is now ranked 51 in the world golf rankings. His first sub-50 spot since 1996, ending a streak of 778 consecutive weeks inside the top 50. Gary Van Sickle of Golf.com thinks Woods still has it and just needs to catch a break. (Video source: YouTube/thecaddyspace)

“Let’s not forget, if two putts drop, even with his game in utter disarray, Tiger may well have won the last two Masters. He didn’t, but the man hasn’t forgotten everything about how to play the game.”

Woods will be returning to PGA Tour action this week at the Frys.com Open for the first time since he withdrew from the PGA Championship in early August. The Guardian reports why Woods is returning this weekend.

“How the world turns. How the mighty have fallen. How every underdog has its day. Select any one of those three clichés to explain why the former world No. 1 finds himself playing in what is listed on the PGA Tour’s schedule as a ‘Fall Series’ event -- second tier, to put it another way.”

Although he did fall out of the top 50, Woods has given analysts at the Golf Channel a reason to be hopeful. He shot a course record 62 at the Medalist Club in Florida on Friday.

“We need to see how he is under the gun. The last time he was under the gun was at PGA. His game has been a mystery. Sure, Medalist is a very difficult golf course. Anytime you shoot 62 around a very difficult golf course, things have to be improving.”

Yahoo! Sports’ Shane Bacon commends Woods’ effort, saying he’s certainly giving it all he’s got.

“I've heard from a couple LPGA friends of mine that Tiger has been asking just about anyone with a staff bag to tee it up in hopes of sharpening his game, and if that's the case, bravo Tiger, because it seems to be working.”

But the Golf Channel’s Erik Williams thinks Woods falling out of the top 50 is a better indication of how he will do at the Frys.com open.

“It’s a fine sign, I just don't... I’m not going to sit here and go, ‘Wow, he shot 62 at Medalist. He’s a favorite at the Frys.’ No he’s not.”

Transcript by Newsy.