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Rory McIlroy, who missed the Arnold Palmer Invitational with a back injury, was largely expected to play at the Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass to defend his 2025 title. McIlroy defeated J.J. Spawn in a three-hole playoff to win his second Players Championship title, joining a group of only eight golfers to have won the tournament twice.
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However, things appear to be complicated by McIlroy’s revelation that his back injury was more “stubborn” than originally thought.
“My lower back is a little more stubborn than I expected, so today and tomorrow I’ll continue treatment at home in South Florida, and I’m hoping to get to Ponte Vedra sometime on Wednesday,” he said in a post on Golf Channel’s X.
McIlroy withdrew from the Arnold Palmer Invitational just before the third round after suffering a lower back muscle spasm that he developed during a gym warm-up and worsened while hitting a ball on the practice range. The injury delayed his arrival in Ponte Vedra Beach, raising questions about whether he will be fit enough for Thursday’s opener.
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As things stand, he is likely to miss most of the practice rounds, which could affect his performance in the tournament. The Stadium Course is widely known as one of the most demanding courses on the PGA Tour, featuring a narrow landing zone, water hazards on 17 of the 18 holes, and the iconic par-3 island green at No. 17.
A back injury halted a run that began with a long-awaited Masters victory in 2025. McIlroy defeated Justin Rose in a playoff to complete the career Grand Slam and win his fifth major championship.
Coming into the Players Championship, he remains No. 2 in the world, chasing the top ranking held by Scottie Scheffler. If he can play, McIlroy will be part of one of the hottest brackets in the opening two rounds.
He joins Xander Schauffele and Hideki Matsuyama in attempting a historic feat. McIlroy already has two wins under his belt and has a chance to become the second player in history to win The Players Championship three times, joining Jack Nicklaus.
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