Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images
Collin Morikawa was in contention ahead of the final round at The Memorial Tournament, but has withdrawn citing back spasms.
There will be one less player in the field on Sunday as two-time major winner Collin Morikawa has withdrawn from The Memorial. Heading into his round on Sunday, Morikawa sat at 4-under, two shots off the lead, but after attempting to warm up, he decided to withdraw because of back spasms.
He climbed 25 spots on moving day to get inside the Top 10 for the final day. Morikawa went 71-73-68 through those first three days and led the field in strokes, gained approach to green averaging 5.8. Morikawa had four bogeys in his Saturday round, but those eight birdies helped him make a giant leap on Saturday.
Collin Morikawa is a WD from the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday due to back spasms.
Morikawa was tied for ninth and two strokes back of the lead through 54 holes.
— PGA TOUR Communications (@PGATOURComms) June 4, 2023
He has not looked like himself throughout the week, especially after the incredible hole-out on the 18th during Friday’s round. Morikawa looked so exhausted when the camera panned on him, so something looked off for the usual smiley golfer.
While warming up, the coverage showed him stretching out his back, and then the next thing the cameras showed of him was when he was walking away with a small backpack on his shoulder.
“We were doing some like reflex stuff, trying to reach down and try to pick something up like quick and low. Went after it weird,” Morikawa said to the media after withdrawing on Sunday. “Literally have never had this in my life. I’ve hurt my back briefly before, but like nothing has been this bad, especially never warming up, never doing anything pre-round. It sucks. I think it’s the first tournament I’ve ever withdrawn from in my entire life.”
Morikawa was one of the bigger names still in contention this week as they look to track down the leaders at 6-under. The official news cited back spasms; when those happen, a golf swing can be nearly impossible.
He hasn’t finished inside the Top-25 in the last five events, and now he has had to withdraw two weeks out from the third major of the season, the U.S. Open. Morikawa said he would head home to Las Vegas for treatment and rest.
“Just recover, get some work done. That’s all I can do,” Morikawa said. “Like I’m not, I’m not too worried about it… Just not a time in the season where you want it to happen. I woke up fine, all signs led to me being fine. Just freak little accident warming up. Never doing that exercise again.”
Morikawa was paired with Keegan Bradley for the final round, but now Bradley will play by himself.
