GOLF.AI • Mar 8, 2026

McIlroy Injury Rocks Golf Weekend

The world of golf was jolted as reigning Masters champion Rory McIlroy withdrew from the Arnold Palmer Invitational before the third round, citing "acute lower back muscle spasms." The injury casts a significant shadow over his upcoming schedule, with THE PLAYERS Championship just four days away and his Masters title defense looming in 33 days.

The injury reportedly began as a "small twinge" during a gym warm-up, which rapidly worsened on the practice range. At the time of his withdrawal from the high-stakes event at Bay Hill, McIlroy was in a strong position, tied for ninth at 4-under par. His abrupt exit was a sharp contrast to his recent positive comments about his physical gains and a preparatory trip to Augusta National.

While McIlroy begins his race against the clock to recover, the PGA Tour event continued its drama, with Daniel Berger holding a narrow lead over a charging Akshay Bhatia heading into the final holes. Simultaneously, the LIV Golf Invitational Jeddah concluded its final round, with world No. 2 Jon Rahm securing a decisive victory at 23-under par.

Adding a strange footnote to the weekend, a television broadcast graphic during play mistakenly attributed all of McIlroy's major accolades, including his Masters and Players champion status, to his playing partner, Ryan Fox.