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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Ewan Murray at Sawgrass

Rory McIlroy hopes to defend Players Championship despite back injury

Rory McIlroy stretches while practising at The Players Championship
Rory McIlroy had a gentle time after arriving late at Sawgrass. Photograph: Gerald Herbert/AP

Rory McIlroy will make a last‑minute call on Thursday over whether to defend his Players Championship title, with the Northern Irishman still feeling the effects of a weekend back injury. McIlroy will wait until his pre-round range session to determine whether he is fit enough to play.

McIlroy arrived here on Wednesday afternoon, having withdrawn shortly before his third round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational. He hit shots for around an hour before walking the back nine with wedge and putter in hand. McIlroy sustained a muscle problem in the gym on Saturday morning, which left him basically inactive for three days.

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