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March 12, 2026
Collin Morikawa Back Injury: Collin Morikawa withdrew from the The Players Championship on Thursday morning after sustaining a back injury early in his opening round.
The two-time major champion had just begun his first round when the problem surfaced. He had completed only one hole before deciding to stop.
Morikawa was preparing to play the 11th hole when the discomfort became evident. He made a full-speed practice swing on the tee but quickly stepped back, appearing to feel pain in his back.
Tournament officials later confirmed that the American golfer would withdraw from the event. Morikawa arrived at the PGA Tour’s flagship tournament in strong form.
He won earlier this season at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and was considered one of the notable contenders in the field. His early exit raises questions about his fitness as the PGA Tour season continues.
Collin Morikawa said he experienced no discomfort during his warm-up before the sudden injury forced him to withdraw from The Players Championship.
The American golfer explained that his back issue appeared without warning as he prepared to start his round. “I felt completely fine during warm-ups.
There were no signs of a back problem,” Morikawa said. “I stepped onto the 11th tee, made a practice swing, and immediately felt that something wasn’t right.”
He added that the pain made it impossible for him to continue playing.
“I’ve had that feeling before when my back goes,” Morikawa said. “I simply can’t swing through it. Believe me, I would keep playing if I could.”
Morikawa arrived this week among the top contenders at TPC Sawgrass.
Shortly after the practice swing, he grabbed his back and appeared to be in visible discomfort. Medical staff were called to examine him on the course.
After spending several minutes evaluating the injury, Morikawa was taken off the course by cart.
Tournament officials later confirmed that he had officially withdrawn from the competition.
Collin Morikawa has previously dealt with back concerns during his professional career. The issue surfaced during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and returned again in 2023.
That season, the injury forced Morikawa to pull out of the The Memorial Tournament before completing the event.
Earlier this week, Morikawa said his recent performances were supported by extensive offseason preparation.
He noted that a major focus during the break was strengthening his body and improving his overall physical condition.
Collin Morikawa said he began the season with strong belief in his game after dedicating the offseason to improving his physical fitness.
He explained that much of his preparation focused on building strength and maintaining better overall health.
“I came into the year feeling very confident,” Morikawa said. “I worked hard on my body during the offseason to get stronger, healthier, and in better shape.”
Morikawa, 29, has been one of the standout performers on the PGA Tour during the early part of the season. He currently sits atop the FedEx Cup standings.
The American has already posted three top-10 finishes this year. His strong run includes a victory at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am earlier in the season.
He also delivered an impressive performance last week by finishing fifth at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
Those results had highlighted one of the most consistent stretches of form he has produced in recent years before the latest injury concern.
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