Rory McIlroy was forced to withdraw from the Arnold Palmer Invitational on Saturday.

As a result, McIlroy‘s participation at The Players Championship next week has been thrown into doubt.

The 36-year-old Northern Irishman experienced muscle spasms in his back ahead of his third round at the Arnold Palmer Invitational on Saturday afternoon.

Do you think Rory McIlroy will win a major in 2026?

His game is trending but winning majors is always an incredibly difficult thing to do…

I do think he’ll win a major. He has started the season in strong form and looks to be swinging the club superbly well.

I wouldn’t be surprised at all. He looks like he’s putting more thought into planning for what skills he will need at the majors. Been very impressive

He attempted to battle through the issue on the driving range at Bay Hill but

Whether Rory McIlroy will play at The Players Championship after Bay Hill withdrawal

McIlroy’s withdrawal on Saturday was only the second of his PGA Tour career.

Now, his attention will be set firmly on getting his body ready to play at TPC Sawgrass next week.

According to Golf Digest writer Stephen Hennessey, McIlroy has returned home to undergo treatment on his troublesome back.

And now golf writer Doug Ferguson has lifted the lid on whether McIlroy is expected to play at The Players next week.

Ferguson said: “Muscle spasms for Rory, think the first since ’23 Tour Championship. Early word is he’s expected to play next week at TPC.“

The key for McIlroy here will be to not force anything.

Back injuries are notoriously tricky to deal with as they can affect the rest of the body.

What history tells us about Rory McIlroy’s back problem

The 2025 Masters champion would do well to take his time when recovering from the problem he has right now.

Rushing back to action at Sawgrass could be disastrous for his hopes of achieving success in the 2026 season.

McIlroy spoke back in 2023 after he suffered a similar problem at East Lake during the Tour Championship.

“I went into the gym just to do some movements and stuff,“ he said.

“I was at the bottom of a squat, a body-weight squat, and my whole lower back spasmed, seized up. I couldn’t move. I honestly couldn’t address the ball this time yesterday.“

He played through that tournament and the good news for him is that his back problems cleared up. He played a pivotal role for Europe at the Ryder Cup just one month later.

And McIlroy will be hoping that he recovers in similar fashion after his withdrawal from the Arnold Palmer Invitational on Saturday.