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Rory McIlroy withdraws from Arnold Palmer Invitational citing back injury
Rory McIlroy’s weekend at the Arnold Palmer Invitational never got started as he withdrew Saturday afternoon before his tee time with a back injury.
It’s just the second WD of McIlroy’s PGA Tour career. The first came at the 2013 Honda Classic when he was 7 over and cited a toothache.
According to Golf Channel’s Todd Lewis, the World No. 2 tweaked a muscle in his back during a pre-round gym session. After tweaking his back, McIlroy went to the range to hit some balls and see if he could work through it. He ultimately decided not to play. McIlroy told Lewis he might have been able to gut it out, but didn’t want to push it with the major season on the horizon.
During his gym warm up at the @APinv Saturday @McIlroyRory tweaked a muscle in his lower back. He tried to work through it but ultimately decided to WD. Rory told me he could have possibly played through it but with @THEPLAYERS & @TheMasters coming up it was best to be cautious.
— Todd Lewis (@ToddLewisGC) March 7, 2026
Speaking with @McIlroyRory in the locker room he wasn’t in extreme discomfort. Hoping with rest and treatment McIlroy will be ready to defend next week at @THEPLAYERS.
— Todd Lewis (@ToddLewisGC) March 7, 2026
McIlroy fired a 4-under 68 on Friday to jump into the top 10, but still entered the weekend nine shots behind 36-hole leader Daniel Berger. He is coming off a T2 finish at the Genesis Invitational in his last start.
The career Grand Slam winner is the defending champion at next week’s Players Championship and at the Masters, which is 33 days away. McIlroy told Golfweek’s Adam Schupak that he was “all good” as he left the Bay Hill property.
McIlroy, who defeated J.J. Spaun in a three-hole playoff at last year’s Players, is scheduled to have his pre-tournament press conference on Wednesday at 7:45 a.m.
The post Rory McIlroy withdraws from Arnold Palmer Invitational citing back injury appeared first on Golf.
