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By Matthew Couden
Contributing Writer
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The Players Championship officially gets underway on Thursday, with many of the PGA's best golfers attempting to claim the significant tournament win and the winner's prize money.
Among them is defending champion Rory McIlroy, who raised concerns about his participation at the event this week. The two-time Players winner has dealt with a lower back injury, specifically muscle spasms that have hampered him as he prepares for the competition.
Ahead of his potential tee time, McIlroy spoke with reporters, providing an update on his injury and suggesting he was hopeful about playing. However, he left it unclear whether that would actually occur.
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McIlroy has a scheduled tee time of 1:42 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday afternoon and seemed to believe he had time to rest up and let the injury situation improve.
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"It's better than it was. I hit up to a six iron on the range, and it felt okay. I have about 20 hours until I am supposed tee off, so yeah we'll see. I'm sort of taking it hour by hour, but it feels better, that's all I can say," he told reporters Wednesday.
"I couldn't stand to address the ball Saturday morning on the range at Bay Hill, and it's obviously better than that. Yeah, probably a game-time decision, but all indications are pointing in the right direction so hopefully a good night tonight; the drugs are working wonders and then just keep it going from there," McIlroy said.
McIlroy indicated he would leave it as a "game-time decision" much like other athletes do in the NBA, NFL, and NHL.
According to Golf Digest, McIlroy's injury issues included some muscle fatigue affecting his "glutes and hip flexor" area, along with cramping in an abductor muscle in his leg.
"It's not structural, it's not joint, it's fine," he said, adding, "It's purely muscular sort of discomfort and fatigue. Obviously, I'll listen to the professionals, but there's nothing that I can do that's going to harm that."
He won The Players Championship in 2025, defeating JJ Spaun in a thrilling playoff situation after a weather delay. That was McIlroy's second win, as he previously finished ahead of Jim Furyk by one stroke.
Currently, many sports books list McIlroy as the second favorite to win this year's event, with only golf's superstar Scottie Scheffler ahead of him.
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For more about The Players Championship and golf, visit Newsweek Sports.
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