Collin Morikawa turned what could have been a tournament-ending setback into one of his most memorable major championship performances, finishing tied for seventh at the Masters despite battling through severe back pain.
The two-time major champion completed the tournament at 9-under 279, a remarkable achievement considering he had withdrawn from the Players Championship last month after just one hole due to back spasms.
"Trust me, it's going to be one of the best tournaments forever," Morikawa said. "I'm going to remember this one for many reasons, but just more how strong the mind is, to be able to go out and convince yourself that everything is going to be OK."
Morikawa's Masters week started ominously with an opening round of 74, clearly hampered by the back issues that had plagued him in recent weeks. The injury struck suddenly during the Players Championship, where he felt fine during warm-up before everything changed on the course.
"I felt fine in warm-up. 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," Morikawa had explained about the initial injury. "Like I just had the feeling before when it's happened. And I just, I can't swing through it."
Despite not being at full strength coming into Augusta National, Morikawa showed remarkable resilience by following his difficult opening round with three consecutive rounds in the 60s. His determination was evident as he played through visible discomfort that affected his swing mechanics.
The highlight of his week came during Sunday's final round, where he made five consecutive birdies on the back nine to card his second straight 68. This impressive closing stretch demonstrated both his skill and mental fortitude in overcoming physical adversity.
"It's just frustrating, because I don't know what caused it," Morikawa had said about the recurring back problems. "Maybe something wasn't activated enough or what, but I went through all the warmups, felt fine."
The unpredictable nature of the injury made his Masters performance even more impressive. Morikawa had to constantly manage his condition throughout the week, never knowing when the back spasms might return.
Rory McIlroy ultimately won the Masters at 12-under par, but Morikawa's gutsy performance in finishing just three shots behind while dealing with significant physical limitations showcased his championship mentality.
Morikawa's T-7 finish serves as a testament to his mental strength and competitive spirit. Playing through pain at golf's most prestigious tournament, he proved that determination can overcome physical setbacks when it matters most.
The result will undoubtedly boost his confidence moving forward, knowing he can compete at the highest level even when not at 100 percent physically. His ability to grind through adversity at Augusta National demonstrates the champion's mindset that has already delivered him two major titles.
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*Originally published on [golfnews.global](https://golfnews.global/article/morikawa-battles-back-injury-for-t-7-masters-finish).*
