McIlroy exits Arnold Palmer Invitational with back injury

NEW YORK (Agencies): Rory McIlroy pulled out of the Arnold Palmer Invitational before the start of Saturday’s third round with a back injury, the PGA Tour said, a month before defending his title at the Masters. The 36-year-old withdrew from the tournament at Bay Hill in Florida about 30 minutes before his scheduled tee time. “While warming up in the gym this morning, ⁠I felt a small twinge in my back. As I started hitting balls on the range before the round, it worsened and developed into muscle spasms in my lower back,” McIlroy said in a statement. “Unfortunately, I’m not able to continue and have to withdraw. I was excited to compete this weekend. I wish the Arnold ‌Palmer ⁠Invitational a great finish and look forward to being back next year.” McIlroy, with 29 PGA Tour wins, had previously withdrawn only once from a Tour event at the 2013 Cognizant Classic ⁠and is scheduled to defend his title at The Players Championship next week at TPC Sawgrass. In 2023, ahead of the Tour ⁠Championship, McIlroy suffered lower right back spasms that caused his back to seize up while stretching at ⁠home, though he still went on to compete.