Collin Morikawa made a surprising move on Thursday.
Morikawa entered The Players Championship as one of the favorites to win the event. However, after just one hole at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., Morikawa withdrew from the event due to a back injury. Morikawa started on the 10th hole, but right before teeing off on the 11th hole, he walked around, grabbing his side and grimacing, before being removed from the event.
Collin Morikawa has withdrawn from @THEPLAYERS. pic.twitter.com/HsffCRoKH4
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 12, 2026
Per FanDuel’s odds, Morikawa had the second-highest odds to win the Players Championship, with only Scottie Scheffler ahead of him.
After withdrawing from the event, Morikawa said it’s “the worst thing in the world.”
“Teed it up on 11, and took one practice swing, and I just knew it was gone,” Morikawa said, via Cameron Jourdan of Golf Week. “Like I just had the feeling before when it happened. I can’t swing through it. Trust me, I would play if I could. It’s just the worst thing in the world.”
Here’s a video of Morikawa leaving the 11th tee, and he is clearly frustrated by the turn of events.
Collin Morikawa has withdrawn from THE PLAYERS Championship after one hole. pic.twitter.com/SZtsluwsqE
— Paul Hodowanic (@PaulHodowanic) March 12, 2026
Morikawa is a two-time major winner, and he won the Pebble Beach Pro-Am earlier this season. He finished fifth in the Arnold Palmer Invitational last week, and he was expected to be a big name to watch in the Players Championship this time around.
