Two-time major champion Collin Morikawa faces an uncertain road to this week's Masters Tournament as he battles through a persistent back injury that has disrupted his preparation for golf's most prestigious event.
The 29-year-old American hasn't competed since withdrawing from THE PLAYERS Championship after just one hole due to back spasms. His subsequent withdrawal from last week's Valero Texas Open has raised serious questions about his ability to tee it up at Augusta National.
"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," said Morikawa, who managed to complete a nine-hole practice round alongside world number one Scottie Scheffler and Cameron Young on Monday. "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."
Morikawa's injury saga began dramatically at TPC Sawgrass, where he described the moment everything went wrong. "I felt fine in warm-up. Like nothing's been any signs of back problems. And teed it up on 11, and took one practice swing, and I just knew it was gone. Like I just had the feeling before when it's happened. And I just, I can't swing through it. Trust me, I would play if I could. It's just the worst," Morikawa had explained about the initial injury.
The former world number two revealed that this injury presents unique challenges compared to previous setbacks he's experienced throughout his career. While he didn't specify which body parts are causing problems, Morikawa indicated there's a connection between his original back spasms and his current difficulties.
"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 explained. "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 (issue)."
The psychological aspect of the injury has proven particularly challenging for the normally confident ball-striker. The lack of trust in his body has forced Morikawa to fundamentally alter his approach to the game, acknowledging that certain shots he's executed in previous years are now off-limits given his physical and mental restrictions.
Despite the limitations, Morikawa's track record at Augusta National suggests he could still be a formidable competitor if he decides to play. The California native has recorded four consecutive top-15 finishes at the Masters, including a career-best tie for third place in 2024.
Morikawa entered 2026 in excellent form, capturing victory at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am before maintaining that momentum with a tie for seventh at The Genesis Invitational and a fifth-place finish at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. That strong run came to an abrupt halt with his withdrawal from THE PLAYERS, derailing what had been building toward a promising Masters campaign.
The timing couldn't be more challenging for Morikawa, who has established himself as one of the game's premier major championship performers with victories at the 2020 PGA Championship and 2021 Open Championship. His precise iron play and putting prowess typically suit Augusta National's demands perfectly.
"It's a work in progress," Morikawa said. "But each day just staying positive, trying to get through it."
Morikawa's practice round alongside Scheffler, who is seeking his third Masters title, provides some optimism that he's moving in the right direction. However, the ultimate decision on his participation will likely come down to how his body responds over the next few days.
The golf world will be watching closely as Morikawa continues his recovery process. His presence in the field would add significant depth to an already loaded Masters field, but only if he can regain the trust and confidence necessary to compete at golf's highest level.
With the Masters set to begin Thursday, Morikawa faces a race against time to determine whether his body can handle the physical and mental demands of four rounds at Augusta National. His day-by-day approach reflects the uncertain nature of his situation as he weighs the risks and rewards of competing while still managing injury concerns.