PGA TourBrian KeoghRory McIlroy, Arnold Palmer Invitational

'I felt a small twinge in my back' - Rory McIlroy issues injury update after Bay Hill withdrawal

PGA TourBrian KeoghRory McIlroy, Arnold Palmer Invitational
'I felt a small twinge in my back' - Rory McIlroy issues injury update after Bay Hill withdrawal

Rory McIlroy tells Ryan Fox he’s pulling out with a back twinge.

Rory McIlroy withdrew from the Arnold Palmer Invitational with a lower back twinge but hopes to be ready to defend The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass next week.

In a statement issued by the PGA Tour, McIlroy said: “While warming up in the gym this morning, I felt a small twinge in my back. 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.”

His manager, Sean O’Flaherty, said: “Nothing more to add. He’ll get treatment over the coming days and will know more then.”

Golf Channel’s Todd Lewis spoke to McIlroy as he was packing up to leave Bay Hill.

He reported that McIlroy said he could have played today, but with big tournaments coming up, such as his defence of The Players next week and the Masters next month, he decided the risk was not worth the reward.

According to Lewis, McIlroy planned to “go home, get some treatment and some rest, and hoped to be ready for The Players.”

It’s only the second time McIlroy has withdrawn from an event as a professional.

He pulled out with a flu virus and food poisoning after 36 holes at the Nedbank Golf Challenge in 2009.

The last time he withdrew from a PGA Tour event was at the 2013 Honda Classic, when he famously walked off after nine holes of his second round, when he was the defending champion.

At the time, he said he wasn’t “in a good place mentally” after playing his opening eight holes of the round in seven over par and finding water at his ninth hole.

He later explained in a statement that he was battling a sore wisdom tooth.

At Bay Hill, Daniel Berger was two strokes clear of Akshay Bhatia on 13-under through 15 holes of his third round when play was suspended for the day.