Collin Morikawa is dealing with lingering injury concerns after a back injury at The Players Championship. On March 12, Morikawa suffered a sharp pain in his lower back during a practice swing.
What happened?
The injury occurred at the TPC Sawgrass, forcing Morikawa to withdraw after a single hole. He was seen grabbing his lower back after a practice swing, although he had felt nothing wrong during the warm-up.
The ensuing back spasm forced further withdrawals from the Texas Open and the Truist Championship. Despite his physical constraints, he played at the Masters through the pain.
Why it matters for Collin Morikawa
The mental toll of the injury was just as visible as the physical one. Morikawa said his back no longer hurt by the time Augusta came around, but the spasms had left a debilitating mental scar he was still trying to work through.
He carded a 74 in his opening round and called it the toughest round he had ever played. But through that, he still finished the week at 9-under and a tie for 7th, just three shots behind Rory McIlroy.
What comes next?
At the PGA Championship at Aronimink, his back continued to drag on his consistency. He finished T30 at one over and left the tournament, by his words, uncomfortable. Morikawa is now preparing for the RBC Canadian Open, looking to regain his momentum.
Morikawa opened up about his recovery, saying he's still a little bit on edge and doesn't want the injury to happen again. He's doing the right steps to prevent it, but the fear of the injury lingering is still a hurdle in his recovery.
The time away from tour gave him a complete reset, especially with the arrival of his first child in May. Morikawa and his wife, Katherine, welcomed their newborn, which gave him a chance to focus on his family and recovery.
Morikawa is looking to find his trust in his swing again, which he says is a lot better than it has been. He's taking it one week at a time, focusing on his preparation and recovery ahead of the RBC Canadian Open.
The $9.8-million PGA Tour event is a significant tournament for Morikawa, who is looking to regain his momentum after a winless drought of more than two years. He recently won at Pebble Beach in February, which appeared to have regained his momentum before the injury.
Morikawa's recovery is an ongoing process, and he's taking it one step at a time. He's focusing on his preparation and recovery, looking to find his trust in his swing again and compete at the highest level.
The RBC Canadian Open is a crucial tournament for Morikawa, who is looking to make a strong comeback after his injury. He's been working hard on his recovery, and it will be interesting to see how he performs in the upcoming tournament.