Collin Morikawa 'Very Scared' After Back Injury Setback

The two-time major champion is struggling to trust his body after sustaining a back injury at The Players Championship.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 10:06am

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An abstract, expressionist painting in vibrant neon colors depicting the explosive motion and energy of a golfer's swing, with the figure's face and body dissolved into unrecognizable brushstrokes.Morikawa's back injury has left him 'very scared' to swing the club, exposing the mental toll of unexpected physical setbacks in professional golf.Augusta Today

Collin Morikawa is going through a difficult stretch after injuring his back during the opening round of The Players Championship last month. The 29-year-old has never fully recovered and admits he is 'very scared' to swing the club, having never experienced anything like this before on the golf course. Morikawa finished inside the top 10 at The Masters despite the lingering back issues, but says he is struggling to fully commit to his shots.

Why it matters

Morikawa was considered one of the favorites to win The Masters before his injury, and his struggles with the mental aspect of the game could have a significant impact on his ability to compete at the highest level going forward. This story highlights the challenges professional golfers face when dealing with unexpected injuries and the mental toll it can take.

The details

Morikawa injured his back after playing just one hole of The Players Championship last month. He has never fully recovered, and the two-time major champion admits he is 'very scared' to swing the club, having never experienced anything like this before on the golf course. Morikawa limped around Augusta National at The Masters, picking his ball out of every hole in a gingerly manner and not once fully committing to a golf swing.

  • Morikawa injured his back after playing just one hole of The Players Championship last month.
  • Morikawa finished inside the top 10 at The Masters last week despite the lingering back issues.

The players

Collin Morikawa

A 29-year-old professional golfer who has won two major championships, the 2020 PGA Championship and the 2021 Open Championship.

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What they’re saying

“I'm still swinging at whatever the idea, 50 percent is. The body is probably slightly better than that. It's hard to trust the body right now.”

— Collin Morikawa, Professional Golfer

“What ended up happening, I think — like I'm not in pain. I know it looked painful, but I'm just very scared, and I've never been this scared in my life to go out and play.”

— Collin Morikawa, Professional Golfer

What’s next

Morikawa plans to take some time at home to further test and evaluate his back injury before deciding when he will return to competition on the PGA Tour.

The takeaway

Morikawa's struggle with the mental aspect of his back injury highlights the challenges professional golfers face when dealing with unexpected physical setbacks. His inability to fully trust his body could have a significant impact on his ability to compete at the highest level in the near future.