Players 2026: Rory McIlroy still dealing with back injury, not arriving to Sawgrass until later in week

PONTE VEDRA BEACH — It appears Rory McIlroy’s tweaked back may be a continuing problem.

McIlroy had to withdraw over the weekend from the Arnold Palmer Invitational after hurting his back in the gym during his third-round warm-up. It was only the third time McIlroy has pulled out of a tournament due to injury. At the time, McIlroy cited the WD as precautionary with the Players and Masters on the horizon.

However, on Monday afternoon, the Golf Channel’s Todd Lewis reported that McIlroy is delaying travel to TPC Sawgrass until later in the week as the injury remains an issue.

“The back is being a bit more stubborn than we thought, so I’m staying at home today and tomorrow to continue treatment in South Florida with the hope to travel to Ponte Vedra on Wednesday at some point,” Lewis said on Golf Channel, relaying his text exchange with McIlroy.

Given that McIlroy is the defending champion at Players—and that the Masters is a month away, where McIlroy will return following his Grand Slam triumph there a year ago—the timing is far from ideal.

McIlroy was scheduled for a pre-tournament press conference at Sawgrass on Wednesday morning, although that now seems unlikely. His first-round tee time is at 1:42 p.m. on Thursday in a pairing with Xander Schauffele and Hideki Matsuyama.

The Ulsterman has avoided major injury throughout most of his career. The only blight was rupturing ligaments in his ankle while playing soccer, which knocked him out of the 2015 Open Championship at St. Andrews.

McIlroy has two top-five finishes in six worldwide starts this season. David Ford is the first alternate at the Players should McIlroy be unable to go.