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Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland reacts to his putt on the 11th green during the second round of The Genesis Invitational 2026 at Riviera Country Club on February 20, 2026 in Pacific Palisades, California.
Despite warming up Saturday morning, Rory McIlroy withdrew from the Arnold Palmer Invitational ahead of his third-round tee time at Bay Hill Club and Lodge.
As the reigning 2025 Masters champion, the withdrawal has raised questions about the Northern Irishman’s health. Including concerns over whether the issue could impact his ability to defend his title at Augusta National next month.
Rory Withdraws Mid-Tournament Citing Back Spasms
Heading into the weekend, McIlroy appeared in a solid position to contend. He entered the third round tied for ninth place after posting rounds of 72 and 68 during the week. His second-round 4-under helped him climb into the top ten heading into moving day.
However, plans changed Saturday morning during his pre-round warm-up routine.
“While warming up in the gym this morning, I felt a small twinge in my back. 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,” McIlroy said in a statement released shortly before his scheduled tee time. “I was excited to compete this weekend. I wish the Arnold Palmer Invitational a great finish and look forward to being back next year.”
The WD on his scorecard marks just the third time in McIlroy’s professional career that he has pulled out of a tournament he committed to play. The first came in 2007 when he withdrew due to the flu and food poisoning early on in his career. The second occurred in 2013 when McIlroy cited a toothache as the reason for leaving the Honda Classic. Although later, McIlroy admitted to reporters that he was “not in a good place mentally” at the time.
Considering how rare it is for McIlroy to withdraw, the decision drew immediate attention. According to Golf Channel reporter Todd Lewis, McIlroy believed he potentially could have played through the discomfort but ultimately chose to withdraw as a precaution. With several major events approaching, protecting his health appears to have been the priority.
The timing is significant for the 29-time PGA Tour winner. He is expected to defend his title at the Players Championship in the coming weeks. Then, McIlroy will turn his attention to Augusta National where he will attempt to claim another Masters Championship. Currently ranked 13th in FedExCup Standings and second in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR), McIlroy is likely taking precautions to avoid a serious injury that would sideline him for much of the 2026 season.
Arnold Palmer Invitational
McIlroy was not the only player forced to withdraw on Saturday. Austin Smotherman also exited the tournament after playing just five holes. Smotherman entered the Arnold Palmer Invitation with plenty of momentum after finishing tied for second place during last weekend’s Cognizant Classic.
Despite the withdrawals, the Arnold Palmer Invitational will conclude Sunday at Bay Hill Club and Lodge. Following a weather delay, the third round was suspended due to darkness. Daniel Berger and Akshay Bhatia currently top the leaderboard, but will have to finish their third round before heading into the final round. Meanwhile, Sepp Straka, Cameron Young, and Collin Morikawa remain close behind in a three way tie for third place.
Sydney Jones Sydney Jones is a sports writer covering all things Golf, Mariners, and Seahawks for Heavy.com. She has experience covering the intersection of sports and human interest stories for multiple publications. Originally from Montana, she recently relocated to Seattle and is enjoying the new experience of being surrounding by live professional sports and rooting for a common team while writing about them. More about Sydney Jones
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