Brandel Chamblee makes claim about Collin Morikawa ahead of The Masters amid injury fears
Collin Morikawa’s back injury at The Players Championship came at the worst possible time for him. Morikawa began the 2026 PGA Tour season in fine style, with a win and two top-seven finishes to his name in his first five events.
Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Collin Morikawa’s back injury at The Players Championship came at the worst possible time for him. Morikawa began the 2026 PGA Tour season in fine style, with a win and two top-seven finishes to his name in his first five events. However, the 29-year-old played just one hole at TPC Sawgrass before his back failed him and he was forced to withdraw.
Morikawa has not played since, with The Masters now just one week away, and he withdrew from the Valero Texas Open this week due to ongoing concerns with his back. Interestingly, Morikawa’s 2026 PGA Tour season began poorly , with a missed cut in Hawaii at the Sony Open. Photo by Ben Jared/PGA TOUR via Getty Images However, he quickly found his feet and finally returned to the winners’ circle after a near two-and-a-half year hiatus at The AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in February.
Now it’s touch and go as to whether he will even be fit to tee it up at Augusta National next week. Brandel Chamblee’s claim about Collin Morikawa ahead of The Masters Morikawa possesses a fantastic record at The Masters and, up until he injured his back at The Players, he was one of the favourites to win at Augusta National this year. However, Chamblee hasn’t been put off by the two-time major champion’s back issue.
When speaking on The Favorite Chamblee Podcast, the golf analyst responded when asked who he thinks is in pole position to win The Masters next week. “ Yeah, look, I don’t think there is any real clear favourite this year, “ Chamblee said. “ I think it’s almost like a dead heat with three or four, maybe even five players.