Collin Morikawa in search of a 2nd PGA title and hoping his cranky back is up to the task
Collin Morikawa's start-and-stop season is a big go at the PGA Championship. The two-time major winner — and 2020 PGA champ — is still dealing with back issues that first surfaced after the opening hole of The Players Championship in March, forcing his first withdrawal of the 2026 season and sidetracking a torrid start that included his first victory in 28 months. The seven-time PGA Tour winner, who withdrew from two other events, is dealing with an occasional cranky back and trying to learn to live with the accompanying uncertainty.
NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa. (AP) — Collin Morikawa's start-and-stop season is a big go at the PGA Championship . For now.
The two-time major winner — and 2020 PGA champ — is still dealing with back issues that first surfaced after the opening hole of The Players Championship in March, forcing his first withdrawal of the 2026 season and sidetracking a torrid start that included his first victory in 28 months. The seven-time PGA Tour winner, who withdrew from two other events, is dealing with an occasional cranky back and trying to learn to live with the accompanying uncertainty. “I wish I was 100% healthy,” the 29-year-old said.
“The body doesn’t feel bad, just it’s uncomfortable, and there’s a trust factor. I’m kind of having to deal with ... I can’t imagine wanting anyone to deal with it because it’s just a very weird feeling of not trusting the body and yet knowing that things are going to be OK.
So, it’s just taking it day by day, doing what I need to do. ” The disappointing exit at TPC Sawgrass came after a great season-opening run. He won at Pebble Beach , finished tied for seventh at The Genesis Invitational and placed fifth at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.