Two-time major champion Collin Morikawa will tee it up at Augusta National this week, determined to compete for a green jacket despite battling a persistent back injury that has derailed his promising 2026 season.
The 29-year-old American made his intentions clear during Monday's practice session at the storied Georgia venue, though he acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding his physical condition.
"The honest truth is I'm taking it day by day," Morikawa said Monday. "It's not exactly where I want to be, and it's unfortunate, but that's just the body, and I can't push it."
Morikawa's back troubles have been a recurring nightmare this season. After capturing the Pebble Beach Pro-Am in February, his campaign took a devastating turn when he was forced to withdraw from The Players Championship after playing just one hole due to severe back spasms.
The injury struck without warning during what seemed like a routine start to his round. Describing the frightening moment, Morikawa recalled the sudden onset of his problems.
"No, no. I mean, warm-up, prep, nothing. I was ready to go swing even harder this week if I had to, right. Honestly, first hole felt great. Hit two great shots. Hit a great putt. Teed it up, nothing felt bad. Honestly, it was like, it's like a deja vu. Like it all hit me at one second," Morikawa explained.
The former world No. 1 has since undergone extensive medical evaluation, including MRI scans, to better understand his condition. While the imaging revealed nothing more severe than previous issues, the unpredictable nature of the injury has created significant mental hurdles.
"It's been a little bit of a mental battle just trying to trust where it's at," Morikawa said. "The back actually feels fine. It's just other parts of the body not cooperating a little bit how I want."
The psychological aspect of his recovery has proven particularly challenging. Unlike previous injuries sustained during training, this back problem emerged during actual competition, creating a crisis of confidence.
"I had never gone through this. I had hurt myself before and never had to worry about swinging on the golf course because a lot of the stuff I had done -- I hurt myself in the gym," Morikawa said. "When you hurt yourself swinging, it's a completely different beast of itself because you just don't know. There's a little bit of a commitment, trust."
The timing of the injury couldn't be worse for Morikawa, who was enjoying one of his strongest seasons in recent memory. Beyond his victory at Pebble Beach, he posted two additional top-10 finishes and currently leads the PGA Tour in strokes gained: approach-to-the-green, showcasing the iron play that has long been his calling card.
Despite the setbacks, Morikawa has been managing his recovery carefully, modifying his training routine while maintaining his competitive edge. The adjustments extend beyond just physical preparation.
"Yeah, if I had to lift stuff and move around. I mean, I'm not back squatting or front squatting anything. I kind of know the protocols of what to do and kind of dance around it. But it's going to take a little bit of time," Morikawa acknowledged.
Most recently, the injury forced him to skip last week's Valero Texas Open, where J.J. Spaun claimed victory at 17-under-par. The withdrawal gave Morikawa additional rest time before the year's first major championship.
"It's frustrating, but at the same time, I can't do anything stupid and push my body in a way it doesn't want to do," Morikawa said. "Sometimes you've got to find other ways to get around a golf course. So I'm kind of making a different game plan than I think I've come up with in the past."
"Some shots that you might be able to hit in the past, you might not be able to hit right now. But yeah, it's a work in progress," he explained.
However, there are encouraging signs for the 2021 Open Championship winner. His short game and putting remain sharp, providing alternative pathways to success around Augusta's demanding layout.
"I just got to be able to get the ball [to the green], which is like the opposite of how I've been, I think, my entire career," Morikawa said. "It's just part of it. I think however and whenever I get out of this little back stuff and body stuff, just go out and trust the things that I've been doing, and hopefully they click again."
As the Masters field prepares for Thursday's opening round, Morikawa's participation adds an intriguing subplot to golf's most prestigious tournament. His ability to compete effectively while managing his physical limitations will be closely monitored throughout the week, as he seeks to add a green jacket to his impressive major championship collection.