Golf

Rory McIlroy struggling with lower back injury at Tour Championship

Irish golfer is suffering from ‘muscular issue’ as he shot a two-over 37 on his front nine

Rory McIlroy plays his shot from the second tee during the first round of the TOUR Championship at East Lake. Photograph: Kevin C Cox/Getty
Rory McIlroy plays his shot from the second tee during the first round of the TOUR Championship at East Lake. Photograph: Kevin C Cox/Getty
Thu Aug 24 2023 - 21:20

Defending FedEx Cup champion Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland will attempt to play the Tour Championship despite injuring his lower back this week, the Golf Channel reported.

The news broke roughly half an hour before McIlroy teed off in his first round at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta. His opening drive found the right rough.

McIlroy’s injury is a “muscular issue,” according to Golf Channel, and he received treatment earlier Thursday. He then hit just 20 balls at the driving range - the first time he hit balls all week, per the report.

McIlroy, 34, is the only three-time FedEx Cup champion in history, having won the season-long title in 2016, 2019 and 2022. He beat out Scottie Scheffler in a final-round comeback at the Tour Championship last year.

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He started the week in third place at 7 under par as part of the event's "staggered start" based on FedEx Cup points. Scheffler and Norway's Viktor Hovland were first and second at 10 and 8 under, respectively.

McIlroy played in the second-to-last group Thursday with Spaniard Jon Rahm and struggled on the opening nine to a two-over 37 as he dropped out of the top 10. Collin Morikawa shot a nine-under-par 61 to close the lead of world number one and FedEx Cup leader Scottie Scheffler.