Collin Morikawa has withdrawn from THE PLAYERS Championship due to a back injury. This unexpected turn of events occurred after he completed just one hole of the tournament.
Incident Details
Morikawa displayed signs of discomfort on the 11th tee box while attempting a practice swing. Prior to this, he had successfully made par on his opening hole. Following his practice swing, Morikawa consulted a trainer and made the decision to withdraw from the tournament.
Morikawa’s Statement
After the incident, Morikawa expressed his disappointment, stating, “I felt fine in warm-up. There were no signs of back problems.” He explained that after his practice swing, he had an unsettling feeling that he could not ignore. “I just knew it was gone,” he added. He emphasized his willingness to continue playing but recognized the severity of his condition.
Recent Performance
Collin Morikawa was seen as a strong competitor entering THE PLAYERS Championship. Earlier this year, he secured victory at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and performed well at other events, finishing tied for seventh at The Genesis Invitational and fifth at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
Field Changes
With Morikawa’s withdrawal, Ludvig Åberg and Si Woo Kim will now compete together for the remainder of the first round and throughout the second round.
