ORLANDO — Rory McIlroy withdrew from the Arnold Palmer Invitational prior to his third round because of a back injury.
McIlroy was tied for ninth at 4-under after shooting a 4-under 68 in the second round at Bay Hill. He gave no indication anything was wrong with his back on Friday.
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland lines up a putt on the fourth green during the second round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard 2026 at Arnold Palmer Bay Hill Golf Course on March 06, 2026 in Orlando, Florida.
“Very pleased,” he said after the round. “One bogey. I really felt like that kept any momentum that I had for the round going. I played the last 10 holes really, really well. Overall, really pleased. Played a very sort of controlled, patient round of golf, which you need to do around here. Yeah, good day’s work.”
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In 2023, before the Tour Championship, McIlroy suffered lower-right back spasms which caused him to seize up while stretching at home. He still competed and finished tied for 4th.
McIlroy, who lives in Jupiter, is scheduled to play in The Players Championship March 12-15 at TPC Sawgrass.
Tom D’Angelo is a senior sports columnist and reporter for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at tdangelo@pbpost.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Rory McIlroy withdraws from Arnold Palmer Invitational with bad back
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