FedExCup leader Collin Morikawa has withdrawn from The Players Championship after just one hole of his opening round due to a back injury. The two-time major champion was among the pre-tournament favorites, having won the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am last month and posting top-seven finishes in his previous two starts. Morikawa opened with a two-putt par at the par-four 10th before experiencing discomfort ahead of the next hole.

The American immediately held his lower back after a practice swing on the tee, receiving treatment before leaving the course on a buggy. "I felt fine in the warm-up," Morikawa told reporters. "Teed it up on 11, took one practice swing, and I just knew it was gone." His mid-round withdrawal marks just the second of his PGA Tour career and first since The Memorial in 2023.

Morikawa's withdrawal comes as another blow to the tournament field, following New Zealand's Ryan Fox pulling out due to illness. The world No 4 had no injury concerns heading into the event but revealed the back issue was something he had experienced before. "It's just frustrating, because I don't know what caused it," Morikawa said, adding that he would have played if possible.