Morikawa Withdraws from Players with Back Injury

Collin Morikawa, the world number four golfer and a leading contender at The Players Championship, withdrew from the tournament on Thursday after completing just one hole due to a sudden back injury at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.

The 29-year-old two-time major champion began his first round at 8:40 a.m. Eastern time from the 10th tee, joined by Si Woo Kim and Ludvig Aberg. Morikawa parred the par-four 10th with a two-putt, but trouble arose on the following hole. After teeing up on the par-five 11th, he took a practice swing and immediately clutched his lower back in discomfort. He called for medical assistance, but the initial treatment proved insufficient. Morikawa then departed the course on a golf cart, leaving Kim and Aberg to continue as a twosome.

Speaking to reporters afterward, Morikawa described the abrupt onset of the pain. "I felt fine in warmup. Like nothing's been any signs of back problems," he said. "Teed it up on 11, and took one practice swing, and I just knew it was gone. I just had the feeling before when it's happened. I can't swing through it." He added, "Trust me, I would play if I could. It's just the worst thing in the world."