PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — Defending Gamers champion Rory McIlroy is delaying his arrival to TPC Sawgrass till Wednesday after he withdrew from the Arnold Palmer Invitational Saturday with again spasms.
“The again is being a bit extra cussed than we thought,” McIlroy mentioned in an announcement to the Golf Channel on Monday afternoon. “So I am staying at residence at this time and tomorrow to proceed remedy in South Florida with the hope to journey to Ponte Vedra on Wednesday sooner or later.”
McIlroy, who was 4-under heading into the weekend at Bay Hill, withdrew from the event half-hour earlier than his Saturday tee time. It was solely the third time in his profession that McIlroy has been pressured to depart a event due to a well being subject.
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“Whereas warming up within the gymnasium this morning, I felt a small twinge in my again. As I began hitting balls on the vary earlier than the spherical, it worsened and developed into muscle spasms in my decrease again,” McIlroy mentioned in an announcement to the PGA Tour on Saturday.
The five-time main winner and grand slam champion just isn’t solely hoping to defend his 2025 Gamers’ title this week, however he might additionally safe his third victory on the Gamers. (McIlroy additionally received this occasion in 2019.) Jack Nicklaus is the one participant to ever win 3 times at TPC Sawgrass.
The timing of the setback just isn’t excellent as the foremost championship season is ready to start subsequent month when McIlroy is slated to return to Augusta Nationwide because the defending champion. Up to now this 12 months, McIlroy has 4 top-15 finishes in six begins and two top-five finishes.
