GOLF: Morikawa taking things 'day by day' as back injury clouds Masters hopes

AUGUSTA, Georgia – World No. 7 Collin Morikawa says he is taking things “day by day” after a back injury that could affect his chances at this week’s Masters.

The two-time major champion has not competed since withdrawing from The Players Championship in mid-March after just one hole due to back spasms. He also pulled out of last week’s Masters tune-up in San Antonio because of the injury.

“The honest truth is I’m taking it day by day,” Morikawa told reporters at Augusta National. “It’s not exactly where I want to be, and it’s unfortunate, but that’s just the body, and I can’t push it.

“It’s been a little bit of a mental battle, I think, just trying to trust where it’s at. The back actually feels fine. It’s just other parts of the body not cooperating quite the way I want.”

Morikawa, a seven-time PGA Tour winner, has been hitting balls over the past week but admitted he still does not have the comfort level he would like heading into golf’s first major of the year. Some shots remain off-limits due to physical and mental restrictions.

“It’s a work in progress. But each day I’m staying positive, trying to get through it,” he said.

On Monday, Morikawa played a nine-hole practice round with four-time major champion Scottie Scheffler and world No. 3 Cameron Young.

Earlier this year, Morikawa won the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and finished fifth in the Arnold Palmer Invitational. He is aiming to make his seventh Masters start, where he has finished inside the top 20 in each of the past five years.

“It’s frustrating, but at the same time, I can’t do anything stupid and push my body in a way it doesn’t want to do,” Morikawa said.

“What’s amazing is chipping and putting still feel great. The putter feels amazing. I just need to be able to get the ball there, which is like the opposite of how I’ve been my entire career.”

-Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto; Editing by Christian Radnedge/Reuters