Collin Morikawa plans to tee it up at the Masters on Thursday despite ongoing physical challenges stemming from a back injury that derailed his recent tournament schedule.
The world No. 7 golfer has been hitting balls for about a week after dealing with back spasms that forced his withdrawal after just one hole at The Players Championship. He also skipped last week's Texas Open to focus on treatment and preparation for Augusta National.
"It's unfortunate, but that's just the body, and I can't push it," Morikawa said. "It's been a little bit of a mental battle, I think, just trying to trust with where it's at. The back actually feels fine. It's just other parts of the body not cooperating a little bit how I want."
The two-time major winner acknowledged he's still working through physical limitations as he prepares for his sixth Masters appearance. Despite the challenges, Morikawa remains committed to competing at Augusta National, where he has consistently performed well.
"I'm not exactly where I want to be," Morikawa admitted, "but this isn't a place where you want to be uncomfortable, but sometimes you've got to find other ways to get around a golf course. It's a work in progress. But each day just staying positive, trying to get through it."
Morikawa's Masters record provides reason for optimism. He has made the cut in each of his five previous appearances, including a tie for third place in 2024 and three other top-10 finishes at Augusta National.
Meanwhile, two-time Masters champion Scottie Scheffler continues to balance golf excellence with family life after recently welcoming his second child, Remy. The world No. 1 deliberately kept the news private for nine days, following a similar pattern when his first child, Bennett, was born.
"There's no reason that my kids need to be on TV or on my Instagram or whatever it is," Scheffler explained. "I feel like my kids need to have a normal upbringing, or as normal as I can, and we'll go from there."
Scheffler offered a glimpse into the challenges of parenting a 2-year-old, describing recent "bargaining" tactics with Bennett over dinner and cookies at a Nike party.
"Bennett is still 2, so the hard parenting hasn't really started yet. It's more bargaining at this point," Scheffler said. "Last night we were leaving a Nike party and he somehow ended up with two sugar cookies, and he hadn't eaten his dinner yet. It was like, 'Alright, buddy, if you eat these sausages, I will give you this cookie.' He's like, 'Cookie!' I'm like, 'If you eat this.' My buddies are sitting there watching — 'Yep, I've seen this movie before.' It's bargaining."
The tournament field features several compelling storylines beyond Morikawa's physical challenges. Masters rookie John Keefer and Haotong Li will be the first pair off Thursday morning, following the ceremonial tee shots from Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, and Tom Watson.
Defending champion Rory McIlroy headlines a 10:31 a.m. group alongside Cameron Young and U.S. Amateur champion Mason Howell. Bryson DeChambeau, Matt Fitzpatrick, and Xander Schauffele are grouped together earlier in the morning.
Scheffler will play in the penultimate group with Robert MacIntyre, who tied for second at last week's Texas Open, and Gary Woodland, whose remarkable comeback from a brain lesion included a victory two weeks ago in Houston.
Morikawa's determination to compete despite physical limitations reflects the unique draw of the Masters. For a player with his track record at Augusta National, the opportunity to contend for a green jacket outweighs the discomfort of playing through injury concerns.
As Thursday's opening round approaches, all eyes will be on whether Morikawa can find the form that has made him one of golf's most consistent major championship performers, even while managing his ongoing physical challenges.