McIlroy to defend Players title despite back injury
McIlroy to defend Players title despite back injury
Rory McIlroy fights through a back issue to defend his Players Championship title, calling it a game-time decision as Morikawa withdraws.
Rory McIlroy will line up at the 2026 Players Championship to defend his title, despite a nagging back problem that had him a doubt after withdrawing from the Arnold Palmer Invitational on Saturday. After a short on-course warm-up, he said he was taking it “hour by hour” and that indications pointed in the right direction.
The world No. 2 revealed in a press conference on the eve of the tournament that the back felt better than during Bay Hill. He joked that “the drugs are working wonders,” and noted he reached a point where a six-iron on the range felt OK. He then headed to Sawgrass to try and prove he could compete while managing the issue.
McIlroy’s decision comes as a timely test ahead of Augusta National, with the Masters less than a month away. He is the reigning Masters champion and previously battled back trouble in 2023, which he overcame to help Europe secure Ryder Cup glory in Rome.
In a related development, Collin Morikawa, a pre-tournament favourite, withdrew from The Players after just one hole with a back injury, parring his opening hole on the 10th before stepping off at the 11th tee.
McIlroy teed off at 5:42pm GMT on Thursday and made pars on his first two holes, trying to manage the issue while defending his title at TPC Sawgrass.
