Collin Morikawa has withdrawn from The Players Championship after completing just one hole on Thursday. The world No. 4 experienced discomfort during a practice swing on the par-5 11th, grabbing his lower back before walking off the course. The PGA Tour has officially listed it as a back injury.
It’s a significant blow for Morikawa, who entered TPC Sawgrass as one of the betting favorites following an impressive run of three straight top-10 finishes, including his victory at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am last month. His form had him positioned as a serious contender at what many consider golf’s unofficial “fifth major.”
Morikawa’s playing partners, Ludvig Åberg and Si Woo Kim, will continue as a twosome for the remainder of Thursday’s opening round and Friday’s second round.
This marks the second withdrawal from the tournament. Ryan Fox pulled out before his first round due to illness.
The timing is particularly unfortunate for Morikawa as he’d been showing the kind of consistent form that made him a two-time major champion. His back issue now raises questions about his availability for the upcoming Masters Tournament, which is just four weeks away.
