PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — Rory McIlroy arrived Wednesday afternoon at TPC Sawgrass just less than 24 hours before his tee time for The Players Championship, with the tournament’s reigning champion saying his back felt better but that it would be a last-minute decision whether he can compete.
McIlroy felt muscle spasms in his lower back at the Arnold Palmer Invitational that forced him to withdraw before the third round last Saturday at Bay Hill Club in Orlando. He had hoped to be at TPC Sawgrass sooner, but his recovery went slower than he thought it would.
“It’s better than it was,” McIlroy said. “I couldn’t stand to address the ball on Saturday morning on the range at Bay Hill, and it’s obviously better than that. So, yeah, probably a game-time decision, but all indications are pointing in the right direction.”
McIlroy went to the back of the practice range at the TPC Sawgrass and hit shots up to the 6-iron and said he felt OK, describing the area in his lower back as more sensitive than any pain. The 36-year-old from Northern Ireland then took a putter and wedges to chip and putt on the back nine in preparation for the first round.
McIlroy, No. 2 in the Official World Golf Ranking, didn’t feel the need for a full practice round at a course where he has won twice, including his playoff victory over J.J. Spaun last year. It was part of a big season for McIlroy, who won the Masters (also in a playoff) a month later to complete the career Grand Slam.
The last reigning champion who didn’t return to this event was Cameron Smith in 2023 because of his decision to join the Saudi-backed LIV Golf League. The last reigning champion who didn’t play due to injury was Tiger Woods in 2014 after having the first of what would be seven back surgeries.
McIlroy had not dealt with a back injury since before the Tour Championship in 2023, where therapists worked on his back during the first round at Atlanta’s East Lake Golf Club, but he felt fine by Sunday on the way to a fourth-place finish.
He hopes quickly improving health will be the case this week at TPC Sawgrass.
“I’d like to think that the sensitivity will go down as time goes on,” he said.
He said he felt discomfort in the gym before his third round at Bay Hill during an exercise when he extends backward.
“But even doing this now is way easier,” he said, demonstrating. “And I couldn’t do that a couple days ago. So things are getting better, but I don’t think it’s something where if I play I’m at risk of doing any damage.”
He will not have hit a full shot on the course since Friday at Bay Hill. The real test comes Thursday afternoon, assuming he plays.
“The nice thing is you don’t really need driver around here that much, especially with how firm it is,” he said. “Getting into the longer clubs is something that I’m going to have to try to do tomorrow. But as I said, I hit up until 6-iron there, and it felt OK.”