Collin Morikawa's Back Injury Recovery Progressing Ahead of Masters Tournament

Sudden Withdrawal from Players Championship

World No. 6 Collin Morikawa has provided an update on his back condition following his shocking withdrawal from The Players Championship last week. The two-time major champion was forced to exit after playing just one hole, withdrawing on the 11th tee after taking a full practice swing. He described the situation as "the worst thing in the world."

Recovery Progress and Masters Preparation

According to ESPN's Marty Smith, Morikawa reported that his back condition is improving daily. The focus now shifts to preventing future occurrences as the Masters approaches in less than a month.

"My team and I are running a series of tests to make sure we protect the area and continuously get stronger to make sure things like this never happen again," Morikawa stated.

These comments were shared during the TGL semifinals between Atlanta and Los Angeles, where Morikawa was unable to participate despite being part of the LA team.

Strong Start to 2026 Season

Prior to his withdrawal, Morikawa had been in excellent form to start 2026, recording three top-10 finishes and a victory at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am. This strong play had positioned him as a favorite heading into The Players Championship.

The injury concerns aren't entirely new for Morikawa, who previously dealt with back issues during the 2021 Tokyo Olympics and was forced to withdraw from the Memorial Tournament in 2023.