Rory McIlroy missed the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill due to a lower back injury.
The PGA Tour confirmed the world No. 2 player withdrew just before the third round began on Saturday.
McIlroy is believed to have suffered a muscle spasm in his back that never went away.
“While warming up in the gym this morning, I felt a small soreness in my back. When I started hitting balls on the practice range before my round, my symptoms worsened and developed into spasms in my lower back muscles,” McIlroy said in a statement to the PGA Tour.
“Unfortunately, we are unable to continue and have no choice but to withdraw,” he added. “I was excited for this weekend’s competition. I wish the Arnold Palmer Invitational a great result and look forward to coming back next year.”
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Rory McIlroy was forced to withdraw from the Arnold Palmer Invitational before the third round due to a lower back injury.
This is the third time McIlroy has been forced to withdraw from a tournament.
He withdrew from the 2009 Nedbank Golf Challenge with a flu virus and food poisoning, withdrew from the 2013 Honda Classic midway through the second round due to a sore wisdom tooth, and apologized a week later, saying his head was in the wrong position.
The back spasm is not thought to be serious enough to cause McIlroy to miss next week’s The Players Championship, where he is the defending champion.
Still, this was the first time he experienced significant back problems since the 2023 Tour Championship, when he played through discomfort. A month later, he led Europe to another Ryder Cup victory with a 4-1 record.
He is approaching a big period of back-to-back tournaments that will culminate in his Masters title defense from April 9-12.
Coverage from the Arnold Palmer Invitational continues on Saturday with Main Event on Sky Sports Golf and Sky Sports. Stream the PGA Tour and more without a contract
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