Collin Morikawa, Ryan Fox withdraw from The Players Championship

March 12, 2026 - 9:53am

Collin Morikawa watches his shot on the 11th hole during the second round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at The Country Club, Friday, June 17, 2022, in Brookline, Mass. (Robert F. Bukaty/AP)

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — Two-time major champion Collin Morikawa withdrew from The Players Championship after one hole on Thursday.

Morikawa, the No. 4 player in the world, took a practice swing on the par-5 11th hole and reached for his lower back. He tried to stretch, and minutes later took a cart ride from an official into the clubhouse.

Morikawa won at Pebble Beach earlier this year, his first PGA Tour title in 16 months.

He was the second player to withdraw from the richest tournament in golf. Ryan Fox withdrew with an illness before his afternoon tee time.

Morikawa was not replaced because he had already started the tournament.Ryan Fox of New Zealand withdrew from The Players Championship on Thursday because of an illness about five hours before he was to start.

Fox was replaced in the 123-man field by David Ford, who will be among the 15 players competing for the first time at the TPC Sawgrass.

Fox won the Myrtle Beach Classic and the RBC Canadian Open last year and is No. 44 in the world ranking. His withdrawal gives The Players 45 of the top 50 players in the world.