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Rory McIlroy Delays Players Arrival With Back ‘Tweak,’ Still Scheduled for Thursday Start

His late trip leaves him with minimal on-site preparation in a bid to join Jack Nicklaus as a three-time Players winner.

Overview

  • McIlroy remained in South Florida for treatment on Monday and Tuesday after withdrawing from the Arnold Palmer Invitational with lower-back muscle spasms, described by TV reports as a muscular, non-structural issue.
  • He plans to travel to Ponte Vedra on Wednesday, with his pre-tournament media session pushed back as he monitors progress.
  • The defending champion is listed to tee off Thursday at 1:42 p.m. ET alongside Xander Schauffele and Hideki Matsuyama.
  • Golf Channel reporting indicates he may forgo a practice round and limit preparations to the practice area before the opening round.
  • TPC Sawgrass hosts a 123-player field and a $25 million purse, with extensive coverage across Sky Sports and ESPN streaming feeds.