Key Takeaways
- Collin Morikawa finished T4 at the 2026 RBC Heritage despite playing with a lingering back injury that has left him “scared” and swinging at roughly 50 % capacity.
- He recorded four sub‑60 rounds during the event, highlighted by a final‑round 4‑under 67 that included six birdies and 14 greens in regulation, ranking him second in Strokes Gained: Approach for the week.
- Morikawa emphasizes that the injury is not painful but creates a mental barrier; he has never experienced a back issue on the golf course before, only in the gym.
- The back problem originated at THE PLAYERS Championship a month earlier; he withdrew after one hole and has been managing it through limited practice and cautious on‑course movements.
- Morikawa and his wife Katherine are expecting their first child later this spring, influencing his schedule decisions.
- He will skip the Zurich Classic of New Orleans to recover at home and will take a week‑by‑week approach to the upcoming Signature Events in Miami and Charlotte, the PGA Championship, and beyond, prioritizing health and family.
Collin Morikawa’s performance at the RBC Heritage offered a vivid illustration of how mental resilience can compensate for physical limitation. After a T‑7 finish at the Masters, Morikawa arrived at Harbour Town Golf Links still coping with a back injury that first surfaced during THE PLAYERS Championship, where he withdrew after a single hole. Despite describing the sensation as “never been this scared in my life” to swing a club, he reported no actual pain, instead citing a psychological hurdle that made each shot feel uncertain.
Throughout the week, Morikawa adopted a careful routine: gentle practice swings, tentative movements in and out of bunkers, and deliberate ball pickups. These precautions were evident in his demeanor, yet they did not prevent him from producing four rounds under 60. His final round was a 4‑under 67 that featured six birdies and 14 greens in regulation, placing him second in Strokes Gained: Approach for the tournament. The steady ball‑striking kept him within striking distance of the leaderboard, and he closed the event at 13‑under par, five shots behind champion Matt Fitzpatrick, earning a T‑4 finish.
Morikawa reflected on the experience after his final round, labeling the two‑week stretch—Masters followed by Heritage—as feeling “like a full year of golf” because of the constant grinding required to play at a high level while managing his condition. He acknowledged that the ordeal taught him valuable lessons about mental toughness, noting that he was able to stay focused and competitive even when he could not rely on his full physical repertoire. The experience reinforced his belief that adversity can reveal hidden strengths, a sentiment he plans to carry forward as his schedule evolves.
Looking ahead, Morikawa confirmed that he will miss the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, opting instead to recuperate in a comfortable, at‑home setting where he can test the limits of his swing without the pressure of tournament play. He cited a few swings during practice where the speed “caught up” to him, triggering a warning sensation that something might “grab” his back, prompting him to pull back and stay within a safe range. This cautious approach will guide his preparation for the upcoming back‑to‑back Signature Events in Miami and Charlotte, North Carolina, followed by the PGA Championship—a venue where he captured his first major in 2020 and later won The Open Championship in 2021.
The golfer’s plans remain fluid, largely because his wife Katherine is expecting their first child later this spring. Morikawa said he will “see how the body goes” and take his schedule week by week, allowing both his physical recovery and family considerations to dictate his tournament selections. While the exact outline of his spring and summer itinerary remains unknown, his recent performance at Heritage suggests that, even with a compromised back, he can still contend at the highest level when his mind stays sharp and his preparation is meticulous.