Back Spasms Force Collin Morikawa to Withdraw From The Memorial

Just as he positioned himself to chase his first PGA Tour victory in nearly two years, Collin Morikawa was forced to withdraw from The Memorial on Sunday morning after suffering back spasms.

“I’ve literally never had this in my life,” the 26-year-old Cal grad told reporters. “I’ve had back (issues) briefly before, but nothing this bad. Especially never warming up or pre-round. It sucks, it’s the first tournament I’ve ever withdrawn from my entire life. I love this tournament and we put ourselves into contention but I have to look after myself and have to be smart.”

Morikawa, who entered Sunday just two strokes off the lead at Jack Nicklaus' Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio, already had planned to take to skip the RBC Canadian Open next week prior to the U.S. Open a week later in Los Angeles.

“I’m not too worried about it. I do want to be 100 percent by the end of next week so I can get some really good work in. It’s just not a time in the season I want this to happen,” he said. “I woke up fine, all signs indicated I was fine and a freak little accident, I’m never doing that exercise again.”

Morikawa shot a third-round 68 to get to minus-4, just two strokes behind three players who shared the lead, including Rory McIlroy.

But he said he “tweaked” his back Sunday morning while doing a warm-up exercise. He then hit about 10 balls on the driving range before deciding to withdraw.

Morikawa had hoped to end a recent drought in which he failed to finish in the top-25 in five consecutive events, including two missed cuts. He has five victories as a professional but has not won since the 2021 (British) Open.

Cover photo of Collin Morikawa by Aaron Doster, USA Today

Follow Jeff Faraudo of Cal Sports Report on Twitter: @jefffaraudo