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Rory McIlroy will be defending the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am title.
This week should be a big one for Rory McIlroy, defending his title at The Players Championship. Instead, his outlook for the week is murky at best.
The world No. 2 golfer was forced to withdraw from the Arnold Palmer Invitational last weekend due to muscle spasms in his back. Then, it was reported on Monday that McIlroy’s arrival at TPC Sawgrass for The Players has been postponed.
Is McIroy at risk of missing the coveted event altogether?
Rory McIlroy Health Update
An update on Rory McIlroy’s back ahead of @THEPLAYERS:
“The back is being a bit more stubborn than we thought, so I’m staying at home today and tomorrow to continue treatment in South Florida with the hope to travel to Ponte Vedra on Wednesday at some point.”
McIlroy was originally set to be in Ponte Vedra Beach to begin prep for The Players Championship, according to CBS Sports. However, lingering back issues have reportedly kept him in South Florida.
“The back is being a bit more stubborn than we thought,” McIlroy told Golf Channel. “So I’m staying at home today and tomorrow to continue treatment in South Florida with the hope to travel to Ponte Vedra on Wednesday at some point.”
The 36-year-old pro began experiencing the spasms on Saturday while preparing for the third round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational. He withdrew half an hour before his scheduled tee time.
“While warming up in the gym this morning, I felt a small twinge in my back,” McIlroy said in a statement, via Golfweek. “As I started hitting balls on the range before the round, it worsened and developed into muscle spasms in my lower back. Unfortunately, I’m not able to continue and have to withdraw. I was excited to compete this weekend. I wish the Arnold Palmer Invitational a great finish and look forward to being back next year.”
McIlroy told Golf Channel’s Todd Lewis on Saturday that he could have played through the discomfort. Fast forward to Monday, and it appears he may not get a practice round in at TPC Sawgrass ahead of The Players Championship.
McIlroy’s Status for the Masters
Capturing the grand slam on the grandest stage!
Rory McIlroy has won the Masters 🏆
Golf fans know The Players Championship isn’t the only title McIlroy is defending. The Irishman is also expected to defend his title at Augusta National next month.
McIlroy won the Masters in spectacular form in 2025, edging Justin Rose in a playoff. It secured McIlroy’s first green jacket as he completed his career grand slam.
The Masters doesn’t tee off until April 9, so McIlroy is still expected to defend his crown. However, it is worth keeping an eye on his back issues, especially if he can’t play at The Players.
His History at The Players Championship
It’s officially PLAYERS week! One of my favorite traditions every year: looking through old photos of TPC Sawgrass
The PGA Tour schedule has reached one of the most competitive points in the season. That means McIlroy will have stiff competition at TPC Sawgrass, whether his back will cooperate or not.
McIlroy might not need too much prep time at Ponte Vedra Beach since he’s won this event twice in his career, in 2019 and again in a Monday playoff in 2025. He’s also one of just eight players in PGA Tour history to win the tournament twice.
Then again, he didn’t fare so well in the years in between. McIlroy finished T33 in 2022 and T19 in 2024, and missed the cut altogether in 2023.
The 2026 Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass tees off on Thursday, March 12.
Chelena Goldman Chelena is a San Francisco-based sports writer and reporter covering multiple sports for heavy.com. The former NHL.com and NBC Sports writer spent 11 years covering the San Jose Sharks, while also covering sporting events locally and internationally. Her other major credits include CBS Sports and Athlon. More about Chelena Goldman
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