Collin Morikawa was one of the biggest names to watch at THE PLAYERS Championship this week, so his early exit quickly became one of the day’s biggest golf stories.
On Thursday, March 12, his round ended almost as soon as it began. Morikawa withdrew from the event at TPC Sawgrass after playing just one hole, turning what looked like a strong week ahead into a sudden setback.
One Hole In and Morikawa Was Done
The moment happened on Morikawa’s second tee box of the day. He opened on the 10th hole, made par, then went to the par-5 11th. After taking a practice swing there, he reached for his lower back and could not continue.
Reuters reported that he was later taken away by golf cart, while AP said he consulted his trainer before leaving the course. For a player who entered the week with real momentum, it was a jarring scene.
What We Know About Morikawa’s Injury
What makes this more frustrating is that Morikawa said the problem did not show up before the round. According to AP, he told a PGA Tour official that he felt fine during warm-up and had no warning signs. He also said he had felt this kind of issue before and knew right away that he could not swing through it.
That matters because it suggests this was not simple soreness during a long week. It was serious enough for him to stop on the spot. AP also reported that he said his back felt tender afterward and that recovery would take some time.
Why This Setback Hits at the Worst Time
Morikawa did not arrive at THE PLAYERS looking for form. He already had it. Reuters reported that he won the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am last month, then followed with top-10 finishes at the Genesis Invitational and the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
Another Reuters preview piece listed him as the FedExCup leader entering the week, and the Official World Golf Ranking site had him at No. 4. In other words, this was not a player trying to find his game. This was one of the hottest players in the field, and one of the clearest threats to contend with.
That recent run also helps explain why the withdrawal felt so abrupt. Golf fans had a reason to expect Morikawa to be right in the mix at Sawgrass. Reuters noted that betting markets had him among the notable favorites before play began, which matched the way he had been performing over the past few weeks.
When a player arrives in that kind of form and exits after one hole, it naturally shifts the whole feel of the tournament.
What Comes Next for Collin Morikawa
Right now, the biggest question is not about one missed round. It is about how quickly Morikawa can calm the back issue and get back to full speed. There was no firm return date in the reports from AP or Reuters, and that is important.
Anything more specific than that would be guesswork. What is confirmed is simple: he stopped because he did not feel he could make a proper swing, and he knows this may take a little time to settle down.
For now, the story around Collin Morikawa is not about a bad score or a slow start. It is about a sharp turn in what had been a very strong stretch of golf. He came into THE PLAYERS in form, in position, and with real belief around him. He left after one hole, and that alone tells you how serious the moment felt.
