Rory McIlroy’s Players Championship Status Remains Uncertain Amid Back Spasms
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — The 2026 Players Championship is set to begin on Thursday, but the participation of defending champion Rory McIlroy remains in doubt as he battles lingering back spasms. The tournament, considered the most significant event on the PGA Tour before the major championship season, will take place at TPC Sawgrass.
McIlroy’s Road to Ponte Vedra Beach
McIlroy initially experienced a “twinge” in his back while warming up for the third round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard last Saturday. The issue quickly escalated into “muscle spasms,” forcing him to withdraw from the event – only the second time in his career he’s withdrawn mid-tournament. He delayed his arrival to TPC Sawgrass until Wednesday to continue treatment in South Florida, hoping to be fit enough to compete.
Upon arriving at TPC Sawgrass on Wednesday afternoon, McIlroy underwent therapy and limited his range session to hitting irons up to a 6-iron. “It’s better. It’s better than it was,” McIlroy told reporters. “I hit up until a 6-iron on the range there and it felt OK. I’m taking it sort of hour by hour. But it feels better. That’s all I can say. Like I couldn’t stand to address the ball on Saturday morning on the range at Bay Hill and it’s obviously better than that.”
Contenders at TPC Sawgrass
McIlroy is attempting to become only the third three-time winner of The Players Championship, joining Jack Nicklaus. Alongside McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler also has two Players Championship titles, winning back-to-back in 2023, and 2024.
Other players to watch include Collin Morikawa, who is second on the championship odds sheet after a recent win at Pebble Beach, and Akshay Bhatia, fresh off a victory at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Xander Schauffele, Tommy Fleetwood, Min Woo Lee, and Ludvig Åberg are also expected to contend.
2026 Players Championship TV Schedule
Round 1 – Thursday, March 12
- Start Time: 7:30 a.m. ET
- TV Coverage: 1-7 p.m. ET on Golf Channel
- Live Streams: 7:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. ET on PGA Tour Live
- Radio: 12-7 p.m. ET – PGA Tour Radio
Round 2 – Friday, March 13
- Start Time: 7:30 a.m. ET
- TV Coverage: 1-7 p.m. ET on Golf Channel
- Live Streams: 7:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. ET on PGA Tour Live
- Radio: 12-7 p.m. ET – PGA Tour Radio
Round 3 – Saturday, March 14
- Start Time: 8 a.m. ET
- Live TV Coverage: 2-7 p.m. ET on NBC
- Live Stream: 2-7 p.m. ET on Peacock
- Live Streams: 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. ET on PGA Tour Live
- Radio: 1-7 p.m. ET – PGA Tour Radio
Round 4 – Sunday, March 15
- Start Time: 7:30 a.m. ET
- TV Coverage: 1-6 p.m. ET on NBC
- Live Stream: 1-6 p.m. ET on Peacock
- Live Streams: 7:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. ET on PGA Tour Live
- Radio: 1-7 p.m. ET – PGA Tour Radio