Rory McIlroy Provides Update On ‘Stubborn’ Back Injury Ahead Of The Players Championship

The two-time winner of the event has given an update on the injury that forced his withdrawal from the Arnold Palmer invitational before the third round

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Rory McIlroy at the Arnold Palmer Invitational
Rory McIlroy has provided an update on a back injury sustained at the Arnold Palmer Invitational
(Image credit: Getty Images)

There was a concerning development on Saturday when Rory McIlroy withdrew from the Arnold Palmer Invitational shortly before the third round.

The Northern Irishman opted not to play any further part in the Bay Hill tournament as he tweaked his back in the gym beforehand.

At the time, it was seen as a precautionary measure, particularly as he had the defence of his Players Championship title looming less than a week later.

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However, he has now given an update on the situation, and admitted that the problem is proving more difficult to recover from than he had anticipated.

The 36-year-old texted the Golf Channel’s Todd Lewis during the channel’s Live From The Players broadcast on Monday.

Lewis read the details given by McIlroy on air, saying: “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.”

On Monday at TPC Sawgrass, practice rounds were scheduled, albeit behind closed doors, although Tuesday’s practice rounds are open to the public.

However, given the defending champion now isn’t planning to arrive at the venue until Wednesday, fans with tickets for Tuesday will be disappointed.

It is to be hoped he will be able to attend the final day of practice rounds on Wednesday, and that it will offer him the time he needs to be ready for his Thursday tee time of 1.42pm local time, where he is due to play alongside Xander Schauffele and Hideki Matsuyama.

JJ Spaun and Rory McIlroy

Rory McIlroy beat JJ Spaun in a playoff at the 2025 tournament

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Assuming McIlroy can take his place in the field on Thursday, he will be hoping to become only the second player to win the PGA Tour’s flagship event three times after Jack Nicklaus achieved the feat in 1978.

Beyond The Players Championship, there are other big tournaments on the horizon for McIlroy, not least the defence of his Masters title, which begins on 9th April.

Mike Hall
Mike Hall
News Writer

Mike has over 25 years of experience in journalism, including writing on a range of sports throughout that time, such as golf, football and cricket. Now a freelance staff writer for Golf Monthly, he is dedicated to covering the game's most newsworthy stories. 


He has written hundreds of articles on the game, from features offering insights into how members of the public can play some of the world's most revered courses, to breaking news stories affecting everything from the PGA Tour and LIV Golf to developmental Tours and the amateur game. 


Mike grew up in East Yorkshire and began his career in journalism in 1997. He then moved to London in 2003 as his career flourished, and nowadays resides in New Brunswick, Canada, where he and his wife raise their young family less than a mile from his local course. 


Kevin Cook’s acclaimed 2007 biography, Tommy’s Honour, about golf’s founding father and son, remains one of his all-time favourite sports books.

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