Rory McIlroy's back is feeling fine. It's his putter that hurts him at The Players
By Doug Ferguson
Published on March 13, 2026.
Rory McIlroy, the defending champion and two-time winner of The Players Championship, had to withdraw from the tournament due to muscle spasms that forced him to withdraw last Saturday. Despite a strong performance, he managed to make the cut and play two more days at the TPC Sawgrass. His putter was the deciding factor, but he was pleased to stay alive and play. McIlory's back is feeling fine and he feels like it is progressively improving each day. He also expressed satisfaction at being able to play again and is looking forward to the Masters.
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