Players Championship 2026: Collin Morikawa has to give up after one hole
Dramatic start to the Players Championship: Collin Morikawa withdraws after just one hole due to back problems. All about the current status at the TPC Sawgrass
The opening round of the Players Championship 2026 went dramatically differently than planned for one of the big favorites. Collin Morikawa, the current leader in the FedExCup standings and world number 4, had to end his participation in the PGA Tour 's flagship event prematurely on Thursday morning after just one hole played. An acute back injury forced the Californian to retire.
Click here for the leaderboard of the Players Championship 2026.
Morikawa retires from the Players Championship: Test swing with consequences
Morikawa started his round solidly with a Par on the 10th hole. But it happened on the following tee shot on the 11th (a par 5): during a practice swing with the Driver, the two-time major winner hit his lower back. The video shows Morikawa contorting his face and immediately grabbing his lower right back.
Despite brief attempts to stretch and consultation with a physiotherapist, it quickly became clear that it was impossible to continue playing. Visibly drawn, Morikawa left the course in a golf cart.
A disappointed Morikawa told reporters on site (including PGA Tour Live): "I felt good during the warm-up, there were no signs of back problems. Then I took a practice swing on the 11th Tee and knew immediately that I couldn't do it anymore. I know this feeling from before. Believe me, I would play if I could. It's the worst feeling in the world."
Collin Morikawa has withdrawn from @THEPLAYERS. pic.twitter.com/HsffCRoKH4
- PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 12, 2026
Bitter setback in a strong season
The task comes at the worst possible time. Morikawa was in top form at the start of the 2026 season, celebrating a victory at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and most recently finishing fifth at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. He had emphasized in advance how much work he had put into his fitness to avoid precisely such setbacks. According to his own statement (via Associated Press), it was probably painful muscle spasms that had already occurred in the past (2021 and 2023).
Failure of favorites and problem children at the Players Championship
Morikawa is not the only prominent absentee in Ponte Vedra Beach. Shortly before his start, New Zealander Ryan Fox had to withdraw due to illness. He was replaced by David Ford.
Special attention is now being paid to defending champion Rory McIlroy. The Northern Irishman is also struggling with back problems and described his start as an "hour-by-hour decision". He is scheduled to tee off at 18:42(all the tee times for the 2026 Players Championship can be found here). However, while McIlroy is hoping to fight his way through the tournament, the prestigious event is over for Morikawa before it has really begun. His focus is now on recovery in order to be fit in time for next month's Masters.
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Release date
12 Mar 2026
photos
Collin Morikawa has to give up the Players Championship 2026 due to injury. (Photo: Imago / Zuma Press)
