Rory McIlroy is confident of defending his Players Championship title from Thursday despite withdrawing from the Arnold Palmer Invitational 35 minutes before his third round. McIlroy suffered back spasms and was unwilling to potentially put appearances at the Players and next month’s Masters at risk by taking to the course at Bay Hill. McIlroy will also be defending the crown at Augusta National.
“While warming up in the gym this morning, I felt a small twinge in my back,” McIlroy said. “As I started hitting balls on the range before the round, it worsened and developed into muscle spasms in my lower back. Unfortunately, I’m not able to continue and have to withdraw. I was excited to compete this weekend. I wish the Arnold Palmer Invitational a great finish and look forward to being back next year.”
After a fine 68 on Friday, McIlroy had been four under par and in the mix at this PGA Tour stop in Florida. Rather than pursue a second Arnold Palmer Invitational win, McIlroy headed across the state to his home in West Palm Beach, where he will rest and take further medical advice before his planned arrival at Sawgrass, in the north of Florida, at the start of the week. McIlroy is due to undertake a Players press conference on Wednesday morning, when a fitness update will now be the key theme.
This marks just the second time in McIlroy’s PGA Tour career – and the first since 2013 – that he has withdrawn from an event. He encountered back problems before the 2023 Tour Championship but played, finishing fourth. McIlroy’s exit continued the theme of high-profile departures from Bay Hill. Those who had missed the halfway cut included Justin Thomas, Justin Rose, Shane Lowry and Keegan Bradley.
Those who remained in the field encountered a one hour storm delay from shortly before 3pm on Saturday. The disruption means Daniel Berger, the leader, will have to return early on Sunday morning to complete his third round.
Scottie Scheffler’s hopes of a third Arnold Palmer victory bit the dust on the 18th hole, where he found the water with his second shot from thick rough. Scheffler has cut a frustrated figure at various points this week but denied the Bay Hill test is too fierce, coming days before the PGA Tour’s marquee event at Sawgrass. “I’ve handled it well in the past,” said the world No 1. “I think we get beaten up but golf’s a game that kind of beats you up anyway. Out here the margins are just so small.
“The rain changed the green speed significantly. They went from basically dead to somewhat maybe alive. I would say early in the round and really pretty much Thursday and Friday there wasn’t a lot of friction on there. I think the rain created a little bit of friction to where your ball was more rolling I think instead of kind of skidding is how I would describe it.”
Viktor Hovland’s 67 left him well placed for a Sunday surge. Hovland’s European Ryder Cup team-mate Sepp Straka is even better placed, his 66 moving him to nine under.
