Collin Morikawa’s back injury at The Players Championship came at the worst possible time for him.
Morikawa began the 2026 PGA Tour season in fine style, with a win and two top-seven finishes to his name in his first five events.
However, the 29-year-old played just one hole at TPC Sawgrass before his back failed him and he was forced to withdraw.
Morikawa has not played since, with The Masters now just one week away, and he withdrew from the Valero Texas Open this week due to ongoing concerns with his back.
Interestingly, Morikawa’s 2026 PGA Tour season began poorly, with a missed cut in Hawaii at the Sony Open.
However, he quickly found his feet and finally returned to the winners’ circle after a near two-and-a-half year hiatus at The AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in February.
Now it’s touch and go as to whether he will even be fit to tee it up at Augusta National next week.
Brandel Chamblee’s claim about Collin Morikawa ahead of The Masters
Morikawa possesses a fantastic record at The Masters and, up until he injured his back at The Players, he was one of the favourites to win at Augusta National this year.
However, Chamblee hasn’t been put off by the two-time major champion’s back issue.
When speaking on The Favorite Chamblee Podcast, the golf analyst responded when asked who he thinks is in pole position to win The Masters next week.
“Yeah, look, I don’t think there is any real clear favourite this year,“ Chamblee said.
“I think it’s almost like a dead heat with three or four, maybe even five players.
“You know, both Scottie and Rory are just a little bit off their games, and I say that, ‘a little bit off their games’, compared to their standards.
“I would put Collin Morikawa amongst the favourites.
“You can’t look at his record there without giving him a nod.
“You know, it’s funny, if you go back and look, nobody really remembers him finishing second or, but every year, he’s, you know, 10th, seventh, fourth, eighth.
“I think his worst finish in six Masters is 18th, but I certainly expected him to be up there.“
That is quite the claim from Chamblee considering the fact that Morikawa has hit only two full shots in competition since March 8th.
Collin Morikawa could have a difficult Masters decision to make
Hopefully he will be fit and ready to play at Augusta National next week but even if he is, there’s a good chance that his game will be extremely rusty.
If Morikawa is not 100 per cent comfortable, he certainly shouldn’t risk inflicting more damage on his back by playing in The Masters.
Pulling out of The Masters will obviously be easier said than done, though, especially considering the brilliant form Morikawa has displayed so far this year.
However, his prime concern should be not only his immediate future, but his long-term future in the game.
Morikawa will have plenty more chances to win The Masters over the next 15 years or so, and rushing back to play in the first major of the year could end up being a big mistake.
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