Rory McIlroy has said he is taking it 'hour by hour' before deciding whether to defend his Players Championship title at Sawgrass on Thursday due to a back problem. The world number two withdrew from the Arnold Palmer Invitational on Saturday before his third round and completed only a short practice session on Wednesday.
McIlroy is scheduled to tee off at 5:42pm GMT on Thursday, but when asked if he was committed to playing, he told a press conference: 'We'll see.' He added: 'It's better. It's better than it was. I hit up until a six-iron on the range there and it felt OK.'
The 36-year-old said he could not stand to address the ball on Saturday morning at Bay Hill, but his condition has improved. 'Probably a game-time decision, but all indications are pointing in the right direction,' he said. 'The drugs are working wonders.'
McIlroy last dealt with significant back issues in 2023, when he recovered sufficiently to score four points for Europe in their Ryder Cup victory in Rome. He described the current issue as more 'sensitivity' than pain, with his right adductor cramping slightly during practice.
