World No. 2 Rory McIlroy withdrew from the $20 million Arnold Palmer Invitational on Saturday prior to the start of his 12:55 p.m. ET third-round tee time, citing a back injury.

According to Golf Channel’s Todd Lewis, McIlroy left the practice range at Bay Hill Club approximately 30 minutes before he was due to tee off with New Zealand’s Ryan Fox in the limited-field signature event. Lewis reported that the reigning Masters champion “tweaked something in his lower back” while working out before he began his warmup on the range.

McIlroy, 36, was tied for ninth and nine strokes behind leader Daniel Berger after a second-round 68 gave hm a four-under 140 total. He told Lewis before leaving Bay Hill that he could have played but withdrew as a precautionary measure. McIlroy won the title here in 2018.

That seems to suggest that McIlroy might be healthy in time to defend his title next week at the Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass. He defeated J.J. Spaun last year in a three-hole playoff.

A statement released on McIlroy’s behalf read: “While warming up in the gym this morning, I felt a small twinge in my back.

“As I started hitting balls on the range before the round, it worsened and developed into muscle spasms in my lower back.

Unfortunately, I’m not able to continue and have to withdraw.

“I was excited to compete this weekend. I wish the Arnold Palmer Invitational a great finish and look forward to being back next year.”

WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW:

BREAKING 🚨

Rory is done at Bay Hill.

WD and walking gingerly off range with a back injury pic.twitter.com/FPNFMSt8tM

— Joe I (@TourPicks) March 7, 2026

Article originally appeared on: GolfDigest.com