Rory McIlroy Withdraws From Arnold Palmer Invitational Due to Back Injury

McIlroy was 4 under heading into the third round of play before deciding he could not play the weekend.

Rory McIlroy walks on the 14th green during the first round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational golf tournament. | Reinhold Matay-Imagn Images

ORLANDO — Rory McIlroy withdrew from the Arnold Palmer Invitational on Saturday minutes prior to his third-round tee time, citing a back issue.

The PGA Tour reported the back problem. McIlroy had warmed up only briefly prior to the round at the Bay Hill Club, where he won the tournament in 2018.

“While warming up in the gym this morning, I felt a small twinge in my back,” McIlroy said in a statement. “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.”

McIlroy is the defending champion next week at the Players Championship and will also be returning as champion to Augusta National next month, where he completed the career Grand Slam last year with his win at the Masters in a playoff over Justin Rose.

The five-time major champion appeared fine on Friday after his second round when he shot 68 to get into the top 10. He talked about his visit to Augusta National last week.

“Very pleased. One bogey,” McIlroy said Friday. “Hit it in the water on 8. But made a good putt for bogey there. I really felt like that kept any momentum that I had for the round going. I played the last 10 holes really, really well. Overall real really pleased. Played a very sort of controlled, patient round of golf, which you need to do around here. Yeah, good day's work.

“I felt like I played yesterday okay as well. I made a couple of big numbers. I felt like the wind got very strong on us for a portion of the back nine yesterday. Definitely got a lot tougher. I wasn't too displeased with how I played yesterday, obviously I just didn't hold it together and score the way I wanted to coming down the last few holes. But I felt like my game's in pretty good shape the last couple days.”