"Please stop!" - PGA Tour pro Billy Horschel rejects TGL injury links

PGA Tour veteran Billy Horschel appeared to take a dim view that competitors in Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy's indoor golf league get injured more frequently. 

Collin Morikawa, who represents the Los Angeles team in TGL, was forced to withdraw after only one hole of the 2026 Players Championship on Thursday. 

Former Open champion Morikawa, 29, tweaked his back and despite attempting to continue was forced to accept defeat and was whisked off the course in a cart with his head in his hands.

He later told of his bitter disappointment, adding: "It's the worst thing in the world." 

Ryan French, aka MondayQInfo, wrote on X after Morikawa's withdrawal: "Another TGL player does down". 

He was referencing the fact that Sahith Theegala, Justin Thomas, Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele, Morikawa and Horschel have all sustained injuries over the past year. 

Theegala's season was severely disrupted in 2025 after he tweaked his oblique and the pain spread to his neck and back. He withdrew from several PGA Tour events and only returned to full fitness this season. 

Thomas felt a nagging pain and discomfort in his lower back after the Ryder Cup and was out of action for nearly six months after undergoing a similar procedure to the aforementioned Woods. 

Last week, McIlroy withdrew from the Arnold Palmer Invitational ahead of the third round after suffering spasms in his lower back. 

Before the 2026 Players, McIlroy said he couldn't even address the ball on the range at Bay Hill he was so sore. 

Schauffele missed two months of the PGA Tour season in 2025 due an intercostal strain and a cartilage tear in his right rib cage.

And Horschel was sidelined for several months last season after having surgery on his right hip in May. As a result, Horschel missed three of the four major championships and only returned to competitive action at Wentworth. 

French suggested there may be a link to the injuries, of which Horschel replied: "Please stop! TGL had nothing to do with my injury. And I would suspect nothing to do with the other guys."

French added that "extra competitive swings, swinging harder and extra travel are not ideal". 

Horschel replied: "So what is your excuse/reason if a player doesn't have a TGL match and decides to practice that Monday or play a money game with his buddies on a Monday."

That appeared to stop the debate, with French explaining he respected Horschel and his opinion. 

"Understand some people who think this is a dumb take," he wrote. 

"I've had plenty before, I'll have plenty more. I also think it's still worth mentioning. Back to the golf."

Morikawa explains Players WD

Morikawa withdrew after one hole of the 2026 Players. 

He started on the back nine and registered a par at the 10th but, before hitting his tee shot at the next, was in visible discomfort. 

Morikawa called for a trainer and discussed the situation with his caddie Mark Urbanek. 

And after attempting a few more practice swings, decided he couldn't continue. 

"I felt fine in warm-up," Morikawa said. "Like nothing's been any signs of back problems. 

"And teed it up on 11, and took one practice swing, and I just knew it was gone. 

"Like I just had the feeling before when it's happened. And I just, I can't swing through it. 

"Trust me, I would play if I could. It's just the worst thing in the world."

Morikawa added: "Honestly, first hole felt great. Hit two great shots. Hit a great putt. Teed it up, nothing felt bad."

This is not the first time he has felt the pain in his back, Morikawa said. 

"Honestly, it was like, it's like a deja vu. Like it all hit me at one second, where I was like, something doesn't feel right. 

"I took a practice swing, there it was, like not being able to swing."