FedExCup chief Collin Morikawa has withdrawn from The Gamers after only one gap of his opening spherical on account of a again damage.
Morikawa was among the many pre-tournament favourites to win the PGA Tour’s flagship occasion, having gained the AT&T Pebble Seaside Professional-Am final month earlier than including top-seven finishes in his subsequent two begins.
The 2-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 on the par-four tenth earlier than experiencing discomfort forward of the par-five subsequent.
Collin Morikawa has withdrawn from The Gamers after only one gap
Morikawa instantly held his decrease again after a observe swing on the tee, with the American receiving therapy subsequent to the opening earlier than leaving the course on a buggy.
“I felt fine in the warm-up,” Morikawa instructed reporters. “Like nothing has been any indicators of again issues. Teed it up on 11, took one observe swing, and I simply knew it was gone.
“Trust me, I would play if I could. It’s just the worst thing in the world.”
His mid-round withdrawal is simply 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 Seaside Professional-Am, the place Collin Morikawa claimed victory
The world No 4 had no damage considerations forward of the occasion however revealed after withdrawing that the again difficulty is one thing he had skilled earlier than.
“I was ready to go swing even harder this week if I had to,” Morikawa added. “Honestly, the first hole felt great. Hit two great shots, hit a great putt. Teed it up and nothing felt bad.
“Actually, it is like a deja vu. All of it hit me at one second, the place I used to be like, ‘one thing would not really feel proper’. I took a observe swing and there it was, not with the ability to swing.
Morikawa was chasing a second PGA Tour win of the season
“It has been a while [since a back issue]. I’ve been really, really good with the body so far throughout the fall. It’s just frustrating, because I don’t know what caused it. Maybe something wasn’t activated enough or what, but I went through all the warm-ups. It’s awful. I feel terrible.”
Morikawa was the second participant of the opening morning to drag out of The Gamers, with New Zealand’s Ryan Fox withdrawing forward of his spherical on account of sickness.
“He would have had such high hopes this week, with the form he had coming in,” Sky Sports activities’ Nick Dougherty stated. “Adding The Players to the two majors would have absolutely been on his hitlist. What a disappointment for one of the favourites.”
David Ford replaces Fox, with Chris Kirk and former Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley finishing that threeball.
Rory McIlroy can be an damage concern forward of his title defence, with the world No 2 saying on Wednesday that’s again difficulty is “a lot better” however confirmed he’ll make a “game-time” resolution on whether or not to tee it up.
McIlroy solely arrived at TPC Sawgrass on Wednesday afternoon for a restricted observe session and to stroll a couple of holes, leaving him set to play the event with no observe spherical.
Who will win The Gamers? Watch all through the week stay on Sky Sports activities Golf. Get Sky Sports activities or stream with no contract.
