Rory McIlroy admits his back injury is better than it was ahead of defending his Players Championship crown tomorrow, having pulled out of the recent Arnold Palmer Invitational before the third round. The five-time major winner had to withdraw due to back spasms and has been a doubt for the Players Championship this week.

The Northern Ireland golfer has delayed his arrival at Florida’s TPC Sawgrass, but did take to the range today to practise ahead of the tournament tomorrow. McIlroy is poised to be in the Featured Group coverage alongside Xander Schauffele and former Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama at 1.42pm local time (5.42pm UK) on Thursday, with the tournament winner taking home $25m (£18.7m).

McIlroy has not given a definitive answer on whether he’ll play tomorrow but has given an update on his fitness ahead of tee off.

Speaking ahead of the Players Championship, he said: “It’s better. It’s better than it was. I hit up until a six-iron on the range there and it felt OK.

“I’ve got about, I don’t know, is it 20 hours until I tee-off, or until I’m supposed to tee-off (on Thursday)? So, yeah, we’ll see. I’m taking it sort of hour by hour. But it feels better. That’s all I can say.

“I couldn’t stand to address the ball on Saturday morning on the range at Bay Hill, and it’s obviously better than that.

“So, 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.”

The reigning Masters champion last experienced serious back problems in 2023, when he recovered well enough to contribute four points for Europe in their Ryder Cup triumph in Rome.

The 36-year-old, who posted rounds of 72 and 68 at Bay Hill before the back problem worsened, had previously withdrawn mid-tournament just once in his PGA career, at the 2013 Cognizant Classic at the Palm Beaches.

He explained: “I wouldn’t even call it pain. I would say just more like sensitivity. Like even just hitting balls there for a little bit, just feel like my muscles around the area just getting a little bit, like, fatigued.

“My right adductor started to cramp a little bit. But it’s fine; it’s expected. But more like sensitivity rather than pain.”