Hideki Matsuyama has back injury setback; withdraws from Wells Fargo Championship

Hideki Matsuyama has pulled out of the Wells Fargo Championship due to an ailing back.

The 2021 Masters Champion has extensively battled back injuries for over two years, as it once again flared up on him Thursday.

This marks his first exit from an event since he withdrew from the BMW Championship last August. But Matsuyama has seen his health issues linger into 2024, too. He skipped out on the pro-am ahead of the Arnold Palmer Invitational but powered through the pain to tie for 12th at Bay Hill.

A month earlier, after his historic win at the Genesis Invitational, Matsuyama noted that he also had some neck issues.

“It’s been really something that’s been bothering me for a long time,” Matsuyama said in February.

“Since the start of this year, it’s been getting better, a lot better.”

Despite the injuries, Matsuyama has played well so far this season. Along with his win at Riviera, he has two additional top-10 finishes, including a tie for sixth at The Players Championship. Many picked him to triumph again at Augusta National this year, too.

He finished in a tie for 38th at this year’s Masters and has not played competitively since.

Hopefully, his dismissal from the Wells Fargo Championship is more precautionary than reactionary. He did participate in the Wednesday Pro-Am, so perhaps he tweaked his back then. Either way, his status for next week’s PGA Championship at Valhalla, the year’s second major, is now in doubt, an unfortunate circumstance for one of the sport’s most popular players.

Jack Milko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Be sure to check out @_PlayingThrough for more golf coverage. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko as well.