PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida – Fans were shocked Thursday at the Players Championship after Collin Morikawa withdrew from the tournament after playing only one hole.
The fourth-ranked golfer in the world seemed to have injured his lower back during play at the par-5 11th hole at TPC Sawgrass. Morikawa swung a practice swing and immediately grabbed his lower back in a clear show of discomfort. He attempted to stretch and work through the injury, but it only got worse.
A few minutes after the injury occurred, Morikawa was escorted back to the clubhouse in a cart after withdrawing from the tournament. It was a shocking move for fans, especially since Morikawa entered the tournament in good form.
The golfer recently won at Pebble Beach Golf Links earlier in the year, earning his first PGA Tour win in 16 months.
Morikawa is now the second player to withdraw from the tournament on Thursday. Ryan Fox had earlier withdrawn from the tournament due to illness before he was scheduled to tee off in the afternoon.
Since Morikawa had already started playing, he was not replaced by another player in the tournament.
The sudden withdrawal from the tournament raises health concerns for Morikawa as well as whether the back problem will affect his schedule as the golf season progresses.
