Collin Morikawa health update after Players | Golf News

Collin Morikawa has withdrawn from The Players Championship after finishing just one gap and is now focusing on relaxation following a back injury.

“He’s home,” reported Kira Dixon on the Golf Channel broadcast. “Rest and recovery is a priority for Collin but it seems like all signs are pointing to his back injury being minor and it should not create further setbacks. Fingers crossed that we’ll see Morikawa back on the PGA Tour very soon as well.”

The withdrawal comes after Morikawa secured a top-five placement at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and claimed his first victory in 849 days just weeks earlier at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

“I felt fine in warm-up,” Morikawa explained. “Like nothing’s been any signs of back problems. Honestly, (on the) first hole (I) felt great, hit two great shots, hit a great putt. Teed it up, nothing felt bad. (I) teed it up on 11 and took one practice swing and I just knew it was gone. It all hit me at one second, where I was like, ‘Something doesn’t feel right.'”.

“I took a practice swing, there it was, like not being able to swing. Trust me, I would play if I could. It’s just the worst thing in the world.”

Morikawa initially believed it was merely a muscle spasm. “I’ve had this stuff before, and been healthy all throughout the year, been moving weight and pushing, going fast,” said Morikawa.

“I don’t know, like, before I even took my practice swing, it’s like you had, like a weird, like deja vu thing. I took the practice swing and immediately knew, like, I just couldn’t get through impact. So at that point called over my trainer, and talked about it with my caddie Mark, and it just sucks. I don’t know how to put it in words.”

Nevertheless, Morikawa had no indication this injury was approaching.

“No, no. I mean, warm-up, prep, nothing,” said Morikawa when requested if he might sense it beforehand. “I was ready to go swing even harder this week if I had to, right. Honestly, first hole felt great. Hit two great shots. Hit a great putt. Teed it up, nothing felt bad.

“Honestly, it was like, it is like a deja vu. Like it all hit me at one second, where I used to be like, one thing would not really feel proper. I took a observe swing, there it was, like not having the ability to swing.”