Collin Morikawa's first round at The Players Championship lasted exactly one practice swing. The two-time major champion was forced to withdraw from the prestigious tournament at TPC Sawgrass on Thursday after experiencing severe back pain that made it impossible to continue.
The 27-year-old American had just arrived at the par-5 11th hole, his starting point for the day, when he took a routine practice swing and immediately felt discomfort in his lower back. Despite attempts to stretch and work through the pain, Morikawa quickly realized his condition wouldn't allow him to compete at the level required for professional golf's unofficial fifth major.
Tournament officials assisted Morikawa with a cart ride back to the clubhouse, marking an unfortunate early exit from one of golf's most lucrative events. The former world No. 1, who has struggled with consistency over the past two seasons, was hoping to use The Players Championship as a springboard for better form heading into the upcoming major championship season.
This withdrawal adds to what has been a challenging period for Morikawa, who despite his early career success with victories at the 2020 PGA Championship and 2021 Open Championship, has been working to rediscover the dominant form that made him one of golf's rising stars just a few years ago.
