SAN ANTONIO, TX — Collin Morikawa has withdrawn from the Valero Texas Open, three weeks after a back issue forced him out of the Players Championship after just one hole.
The two-time major champion was expected to use this week’s event at TPC San Antonio as his final competitive tune-up before the Masters. Instead, the PGA Tour confirmed Tuesday morning that Morikawa is still dealing with residual effects from the back spasms that ended his week at TPC Sawgrass on March 12.
Morikawa felt the pain during a practice swing on the 11th tee at the Players. Despite a clean warm-up, he immediately knew the issue had returned.
“I felt fine in warm-up… nothing’s been any signs of back problems,” he said at the time. “It’s awful. I feel terrible.”
He had been optimistic about a return. Just over a week ago, Morikawa told ESPN his recovery was “really positive” and that he was targeting the Texas Open to sharpen up before Augusta National.
Now, the 29-year-old heads to the Masters — which begins next week at Augusta National — without a single competitive round since early March at Bay Hill. That lack of reps could be telling on a course that rewards precision and iron play, two of Morikawa’s calling cards.
Morikawa enters the 2026 Masters as the 10th favorite at roughly 30-1 odds to claim the Green Jacket. He has been one of the steadiest performers at Augusta in recent years, with four straight top-15 finishes, including two top-5s and a top-10. Earlier this season he won the signature event at Pebble Beach and chased it with a pair of top-10s at two more signature tournaments (T7 Riviera, 5th Bay Hill).
A further setback or limited participation at Augusta would be a blow for a player who has two major titles (2020 PGA Championship and 2021 Open Championship) and remains one of the Tour’s elite ball-strikers when healthy.
PGA Tour officials and Morikawa’s team have not yet issued an update on his expected timeline or his status for next week in Georgia.
This story was updated with the latest PGA Tour confirmation.
