Rory McIlroy has withdrawn from the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill due to back spasms that developed during his warmup routine. The world No 2 PGA Tour star pulled out just before his third round was scheduled to begin on Saturday. The 35-year-old Northern Irishman experienced muscle spasms in his lower back that worsened as he hit balls on the range.

This marks only the third tournament withdrawal of McIlroy's career, following exits from the 2009 Nedbank Golf Challenge due to illness and the 2013 Honda Classic during the second round. The back issues are not believed to be serious enough to prevent his participation in next week's Players Championship, where he is the defending champion. McIlroy had previously dealt with back discomfort during the 2023 Tour Championship but played through it.

The withdrawal comes at a critical juncture in McIlroy's season as he approaches a stretch of consecutive tournaments culminating with the defense of his Masters title in April. His absence from Bay Hill represents a significant blow to the tournament's star power and raises questions about his preparation for the upcoming major championship.