The Players: FedExCup leader Collin Morikawa withdraws after just one hole at TPC Sawgrass due to back injury

FedExCup leader Collin Morikawa has withdrawn from The Players after just one hole of his opening round due to a back injury.

Morikawa was among the pre-tournament favourites to win the PGA Tour's flagship event, having won the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am last month before adding top-seven finishes in his next two starts.

The two-time major champion had an 8.40am (12.40pm UK time) tee time alongside Ludvig Åberg and Si Woo Kim, with Morikawa opening with a two-putt par at the par-four 10th before experiencing discomfort ahead of the par-five next.

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Morikawa immediately held his lower back after a practice swing on the tee, with the American receiving treatment next to the hole before leaving the course on a buggy.

"I felt fine in the warm-up," Morikawa told reporters. "Like nothing has been any signs of back problems. Teed it up on 11, took one practice swing, and I just knew it was gone.

"Trust me, I would play if I could. It's just the worst thing in the world."

His mid-round withdrawal is just the second of his PGA Tour career and first since The Memorial in 2023, with Åberg and Si Woo Kim playing the rest of their round as a two-ball.

The world No 4 had no injury concerns ahead of the event but revealed after withdrawing that the back issue is something he had experienced before.

"I was ready to go swing even harder this week if I had to," Morikawa added. "Honestly, the first hole felt great. Hit two great shots, hit a great putt. Teed it up and nothing felt bad.

"Honestly, it's like a deja vu. It all hit me at one second, where I was like, 'something doesn't feel right'. I took a practice swing and there it was, not being able to swing.

"It has been a while [since a back issue]. I've been really, really good with the body so far throughout the fall. It's just frustrating, because I don't know what caused it. Maybe something wasn't activated enough or what, but I went through all the warm-ups. It's awful. I feel terrible."

Morikawa was the second player of the opening morning to pull out of The Players, with New Zealand's Ryan Fox withdrawing ahead of his round due to illness.

"He would have had such high hopes this week, with the form he had coming in," Sky Sports' Nick Dougherty said. "Adding The Players to the two majors would have absolutely been on his hitlist. What a disappointment for one of the favourites."

David Ford replaces Fox, with Chris Kirk and former Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley completing that threeball.

Rory McIlroy is also an injury concern ahead of his title defence, with the world No 2 saying on Wednesday that is back issue is "a lot better" but confirmed he will make a "game-time" decision on whether to tee it up.

McIlroy only arrived at TPC Sawgrass on Wednesday afternoon for a limited practice session and to walk a few holes, leaving him set to play the tournament without a practice round.

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