Mcilroy Fit To Compete At Players After Back Injury

Rory McIlroy has recovered sufficiently from his backmost wounded to statesman his defence of nan Players Championship.

The world number 2 showed nary evident signs of discomfort erstwhile utilizing his driver to tee disconnected connected nan first spread astatine 14:12 section clip (18:12 GMT) and recovered nan mediate of nan fairway pinch a 329-yard tee shot.

McIlroy only arrived astatine TPC Sawgrass connected Wednesday for nan PGA Tour's flagship event, having opted to enactment astatine location for curen connected nan wounded that forced him to propulsion retired of past week's arena astatine Bay Hill.

On nan eve of nan tournament, nan 36-year-old said "the narcotics are moving wonders" and "all indications are pointing successful nan correct direction" but that he was taking it "hour by hour" and his information would beryllium a last-minute decision.

McIlroy is, however, assured he will not aggravate nan wounded by playing this week, pinch nan Masters 4 weeks away.

"It's not structural, it's not associated - it's purely a muscular benignant of discomfort and fatigue," he said.

"Obviously I'll perceive to nan professionals. But there's thing that I tin do that's going to harm that."

On Wednesday nan Northern Irishman did not deed a driver aliases fairway wood connected nan range, alternatively focusing connected clubs up to his six-iron.

He past went to practise his chipping and putting connected nan course, which is astatine nan PGA Tour's office successful Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.

However, he deed shots pinch his driver while warming up for his opening information connected Thursday.

McIlroy is hoping to subordinate Jack Nicklaus arsenic a three-time victor of nan event, having besides won nan title successful 2019 - and nan first to triumph each 3 of them astatine Sawgrass.

The five-time awesome victor withdrew from past week's Arnold Palmer Invitational astatine Bay Hill earlier his 3rd information connected Saturday.

He felt "a mini twinge" successful his little backmost during his gym warm-up and knowledgeable "muscle spasms" connected nan driving range.

The first awesome of nan year, nan Masters - which McIlroy won past twelvemonth to complete a profession Grand Slam - originates connected 8 April.