Rory McIlroy to Defend Players Title Despite Invitational Withdrawal The Northern Irishman withdrew before the third round: “I felt a little tightness in my back, which turned into muscle spasms.”
Rory McIlroy is confident he will defend his Players Championship title starting Thursday, despite withdrawing from the Arnold Palmer Invitational 35 minutes before his third round. McIlroy experienced back spasms, and the Northern Irishman was unwilling to jeopardize his participation in The Players and next month's Masters by competing at Bay Hill. McIlroy will also defend his title at Augusta National.
“I warmed up in the gym this morning and I felt a little tightness in my lower back,” McIlroy said. “Then going on the range, hitting some balls, it just progressively got worse and worse and turned into muscle spasms. So, just unfortunate, but I just can’t continue and pull out. I was really looking forward to playing this weekend. I wish the Arnold Palmer Invitational a great finish and I look forward to coming back next year.”
After a strong 68 on Friday, McIlroy was four-under-par and very much in contention at the PGA Tour event in Florida. Instead of pursuing a second victory at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, McIlroy drove across the state to his home in West Palm Beach. There, he will rest and seek further medical advice before his planned travel to Sawgrass, in northern Florida, for the start of the week. McIlroy is scheduled to hold a pre-Players press conference on Wednesday morning, where a fitness update will now be the main topic.
This marks only the second time in McIlroy’s PGA Tour career – and the first since 2013 – that he has had to withdraw from an event. He had prior back issues before the 2023 Tour Championship but played through them, finishing the tournament in fourth place.
McIlroy's withdrawal continued the series of high-profile departures from Bay Hill. Among those who missed the cut were Justin Thomas, Justin Rose, Shane Lowry, and Keegan Bradley.
