Rory McIlroy has been forced to withdraw from the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill due to back spasms, casting doubt on his participation in the upcoming Players Championship and the defence of his Masters title.
The Northern Irishman failed to make his third round tee time after suffering the injury while warming up. It is only the third time in his PGA Tour career that he has pulled out mid-tournament.
"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," McIlroy said in a statement. He expressed disappointment at not being able to continue and said he looks forward to returning next year.
The withdrawal comes just a week before the Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass, with the Masters at Augusta National beginning on 9 April, where McIlroy is the defending champion after completing the career grand slam last year.
McIlroy previously withdrew from the 2009 Nedbank Golf Challenge with flu and food poisoning, and from the 2013 Honda Classic citing a sore wisdom tooth before later apologising for his mindset.
