Rory McIlroy withdraws before Saturday tee time at Arnold Palmer Invitational Rory McIlroy withdrew from the third round of the 2026 Arnold Palmer Invitational ahead of his scheduled tee time on Saturday. According to Golf Channel’s Todd Lewis, the Northern Irish golfer experienced a lower back injury during his pre-round warmup. McIlroy, who typically hits a few putts before heading to the range, skipped his usual routine and immediately moved to the practice tee. After hitting balls for a short period, he decided to withdraw. McIlroy was seen leaving the practice range at Bay Hill Club and Lodge approximately 30 minutes before his 12:55 p.m. ET tee time with Ryan Fox. He then went to the locker room, gathered his belongings, and exited through a backdoor before departing in his courtesy car around 12:30 p.m. In a statement, McIlroy explained that he felt a small twinge in his back while warming up in the gym. The discomfort worsened as he began hitting balls, leading to muscle spasms in his lower back. He confirmed he would not continue and expressed his disappointment at missing the tournament. This marks the third time McIlroy has withdrawn mid-tournament during his professional career. In 2009, he pulled out of the Nedbank Challenge due to the flu and food poisoning, and in 2013, he withdrew from the Honda Classic after playing the first eight holes at 7 over, citing wisdom-tooth pain and mental fatigue. Despite feeling he could have played Saturday, McIlroy opted to withdraw as a precaution. He is set to defend his Players Championship title at TPC Sawgrass the following week. Lewis noted that McIlroy’s decision was precautionary, as he believed he could have competed but chose to prioritize his health.#arnold_palmer_invitational #rory_mcilroy #players_championship #bay_hill_club_and_lodge #todd_lewis
