Rory McIlroy withdrew from the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard prior to his third-round tee time Saturday due to a back injury.
McIlroy sat 4-under for the tournament, nine shots behind 36-hole leader Daniel Berger at Bay Hill Club & Lodge.
According to Golf Channel’s Brentley Romine, McIlroy “went straight to the range instead of putting a little first, like he usually does, and hit balls for a couple minutes before making the call.”
McIlroy’s only previous withdrawal during PGA TOUR competition came during the 2013 Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches.
The 29-time PGA TOUR winner currently sits 13th in the FedExCup this season, and is scheduled to defend THE PLAYERS Championship next week at TPC Sawgrass.
His title defence at the Masters is just one month away so he will be hopeful that this withdrawal is just a precaution rather than anything that could put his return to Augusta National in jeopardy or the remainder of the season.
Shane Lowry had missed the cut on Friday night and with Seamus Power also missing the cut at the Puerto Rico Open, McIlroy’s withdrawal brings an end to Irish interest Stateside for this weekend.
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