Collin Morikawa Uncertain About Masters Return After Injury

The two-time major winner is hoping to play at Augusta National despite lingering concerns over his back.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 9:41pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A cubist, geometric painting depicting a golfer's swing motion broken down into overlapping planes of vibrant colors, conceptually representing the physical and mental challenges Collin Morikawa faces in recovering from his back injury.Morikawa's uncertain Masters status highlights the challenges elite golfers face in recovering from injury.Augusta Today

Collin Morikawa is unsure if his back injury will allow him to compete at the 2026 Masters after he withdrew from The Players Championship last month. Morikawa has been taking it 'day-by-day' in his recovery and admitted his back is not in the condition he hoped it would be by this point. He played a practice round at Augusta National earlier this week but noted there will be certain shots he won't be able to attempt due to the injury.

Why it matters

Morikawa is one of the top young stars on the PGA Tour, having won two major championships already. His participation at the Masters is highly anticipated, and his potential absence or limited play would be a significant storyline heading into the tournament.

The details

Morikawa suffered the back injury during the first round of The Players Championship last month. He has not played since then, missing the Valero Texas Open last week. Morikawa had MRIs done on his back and said the injury has not gotten worse, but he is still dealing with other parts of his body 'not cooperating' the way he would like. He played a nine-hole practice round at Augusta National on Monday alongside Scottie Scheffler and Cameron Young.

  • Morikawa suffered the back injury during the first round of The Players Championship last month.
  • Morikawa withdrew from the Valero Texas Open last week.
  • Morikawa played a nine-hole practice round at Augusta National on Monday, April 7, 2026.

The players

Collin Morikawa

A two-time major champion on the PGA Tour who is uncertain about his ability to compete at the 2026 Masters due to a lingering back injury.

Scottie Scheffler

A PGA Tour player who joined Morikawa for a practice round at Augusta National ahead of the 2026 Masters.

Cameron Young

A PGA Tour player who joined Morikawa and Scheffler for a practice round at Augusta National ahead of the 2026 Masters.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“When you hurt yourself swinging, it's a completely different beast of itself because you just don't know.”

— Collin Morikawa

“It's been a little bit of a mental battle just trying to trust 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.”

— Collin Morikawa

“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. 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.”

— Collin Morikawa

What’s next

Morikawa will continue to be evaluated by medical staff and will make a final decision on his Masters participation closer to the start of the tournament on April 9.

The takeaway

Collin Morikawa's uncertain status for the 2026 Masters due to a lingering back injury highlights the challenges elite golfers face in recovering from physical setbacks and the difficult decisions they must make about competing while still injured. His absence or limited play would be a significant storyline heading into the tournament.