Morikawa withdraws from Players Championship due to back injury
Collin Morikawa withdrew from The Players Championship on Thursday due to a back injury, the PGA TOUR announced.
He completed just one hole before exiting. Morikawa, who teed off on No. 10, appeared to be in significant discomfort after a practice swing on the 11th tee.
Collin Morikawa has withdrawn from @THEPLAYERS. pic.twitter.com/HsffCRoKH4
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 12, 2026
Morikawa, the World No. 4, closed as the second favorite to win the tournament behind only Scottie Scheffler. The two-time major champion was coming off an impressive stretch of golf, finishing fifth at Bay Hill, tying for seventh at Riviera, and winning at Pebble Beach.
Morikawa finished T10 at the 2025 Players Championship, the best result of his career at TPC Sawgrass.
The 29-year-old is the second player to withdraw from the tournament after Ryan Fox did so earlier Thursday due to illness.