FedExCup leader Collin Morikawa has withdrawn from The Players after just one hole of his opening spherical due to a back injury.
Morikawa was among the many pre-tournament favourites to win the PGA Tour’s flagship occasion, having received the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am final month earlier than including top-seven finishes in his subsequent two begins.
The two-time main champion had an 8.40am (12.40pm UK time) tee time alongside Ludvig Åberg and Si Woo Kim, with Morikawa opening with a two-putt par at the par-four tenth earlier than experiencing discomfort forward of the par-five subsequent.
Morikawa instantly held his decrease back after a apply swing on the tee, with the American receiving therapy subsequent to the hole earlier than leaving the course on a buggy.
His mid-round withdrawal is just the second of his PGA Tour profession and first since The Memorial in 2023, with Åberg and Si Woo Kim taking part in the remainder of their spherical as a two-ball.
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Highlights from the ultimate spherical of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, the place Collin Morikawa claimed victory
“He would have had such high hopes this week, with the form he had coming in,” Sky Sports’ Nick Dougherty mentioned. “Adding The Players to the two majors would have absolutely been on his hitlist. What a disappointment for one of the favourites.”
Morikawa was the second participant of the opening morning to pull out of The Players, with New Zealand’s Ryan Fox withdrawing forward of his spherical due to sickness.
David Ford replaces Fox, with Chris Kirk and former Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley finishing that threeball.
Rory McIlroy can also be an injury concern forward of his title defence, with the world No 2 saying on Wednesday that’s back challenge is “a lot better” however confirmed he’ll make a “game-time” choice on whether or not to tee it up.
McIlroy solely arrived at TPC Sawgrass on Wednesday afternoon for a restricted apply session and to stroll just a few holes, leaving him set to play the match with out a apply spherical.
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