Rory McIlroy Confident Of Bouncing Back At The Players Championship After A Rusty First Round

Add as a preferred source on Google

Rory McIlroy opened his Players Championship title defence with a rusty two-over-par 74 at TPC Sawgrass, leaving the Northern Irishman seven shots behind the leaders after the first round, yet McIlroy insisted the back injury that forced a withdrawal the previous week would not stop a serious challenge.

The defending Players Championship winner had pulled out of the Arnold Palmer Invitational at the halfway stage due to a back problem and then waited until close to tee time to decide to play at Sawgrass, skipped a practice round, mixed one birdie with three bogeys, and watched birdie chances on 16 and 17 slide past the edge.

"It was fine," he said when asked how his back felt during the round. "The most discomfort was when the ball was below my feet or with chipping. But it's weird. I played on Friday; it's not as if I've taken a ton of time off, I just felt unbelievably rusty out there. I'm glad I got through the round. Honestly, I don't feel like I'm that far away. No one went really low, which I expected them to, just because the conditions were pretty benign. If I can go out and shoot a good one [on Friday], I feel like I'll be right in it for the weekend."

The opening day at the Players Championship ended with a tight board, as Maverick McNealy, Lee Hodges, Sepp Straka, Sahith Theegala and Austin Smotherman all reached five-under-par, with Smotherman still on the course after a weather delay left four players yet to complete their first rounds.

Heavy rain interrupted play at the Players Championship and meant some groups faced harsher conditions, with Tommy Fleetwood among those caught in the worst of the weather yet still posting three-under to sit two shots behind in a share of 10th with Xander Schauffele, Ludvig Aberg and others.

World number one Scottie Scheffler is also in touch at the Players Championship, seeking a third victory after titles in 2023 and 2024, but Scheffler’s challenge started unevenly as four birdies were offset by four bogeys in an opening level-par 72.

Players Championship withdrawals and injury setbacks

There was further injury concern at the Players Championship when Collin Morikawa withdrew after completing only one hole, having shown no clear signs of trouble beforehand, before reporting a familiar back issue that prevented a full swing and forced an early exit from TPC Sawgrass.

"I felt fine in warm-up," he said of having to pull out. "Like, nothing's been any signs of back problems. And teed it up on 11, and took one practice swing, and I just knew it was gone. Like I just had the feeling before when it's happened. And I just, I can't swing through it. Trust me, I would play if I could. It's just the worst thing in the world."

With McIlroy seven adrift but encouraged by manageable pain levels, Scheffler targeting history, a packed group at five-under and players like Fleetwood close behind, the Players Championship heads into the second round with leading names still positioned to move, while injuries remain a quiet concern in the background.