Rory McIlroy won the Players Championship in 2025 and followed it up with a memorably victory at the Masters
Rory McIlroy’s group for the upcoming Players Championship has been revealed(Image: Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images)
After the withdrawal of Rory McIlroy from the Arnold Palmer Invitational, questions have been asked about his availability for the upcoming Players Championship. He’s still in the field for now, though, with the Northern Irishman’s grouping now confirmed.
McIlroy won the Players Championship in 2025, getting the better of J.J. Spaun in a play-off. He followed that victory with a triumph at the Masters, part of a banner year for the 36-year-old.
He left it late to pull out of the Arnold Palmer Invitational, playing the first two rounds before a back injury prevented him from continuing. A mid-tournament withdrawal is a rarity for the 36-year-old so it left some fearing the worst.
McIlroy is in the field for the Players, though, with Xander Schauffele and Hideki Matsuyama in his group for the first two rounds. Schauffele is a two-time runner-up, finishing tied for second in 2018 and 2024, while Matsuyama’s best previous finish came in 2023 when he ended up fifth.
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“While warming up in the gym this morning, I felt a small twinge in my back,” McIlroy said after withdrawing from the Arnold Palmer Invitational, via a statement from the PGA. “As I started hitting balls on the range before the round, it worsened and developed into muscle spasms in my lower back.
“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 won the 2025 Players Championship after a play-off(Image: Ben Jared/PGA TOUR via Getty Images)
With McIlroy out of the running at Bay Hill over the weekend, Daniel Berger had looked on course for a first PGA Tour win since 2021. However, on the final day, the American saw a big lead eaten up over the back nine by Akshay Bhatia.
“Everyone knows when you show up to Bay Hill it’s going to be a test and to play one of the hardest golf courses,” said California pro Bhatia. “To succeed is really cool, and I can’t thank the tournament enough.”
“I’m proud of myself. Obviously it didn’t go the way I wanted it to, but at the start of the week, if you told me I would have a chance on the 18th hole to win Bay Hill, I would be ecstatic with that,” Berger said.
“A lot of positives, a lot of things to learn from. I think my game is sharp, just need to clean a few things up here and there. It’s tough to win. I feel like I did a good job, and a shot here or there was the difference.”