The Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill saw a notable exit. Another of the PGA Tour's elite had to shorten his week at Bay Hill.

Austin Smotherman had to make an official tournament withdrawal during the third round. After what seemed to take an eternity to find his game, the American golfer decided that he could go no further.

The golfer went public to justify his early exit from the tournament. Smotherman conveyed the situation, explaining that he was struggling physically. He went on to say, "Woke up with tightness and spasms in my lower back."

Despite his attempts to get ready to play for the day, the problem did not go away. He pointed out his pre-round routine, "throughout my warm up, it felt like I could give it a go."

The level of competition at Bay Hill was, unfortunately, too much. He expressed his frustration, saying, "I had hopes it would loosen up and just did not get better."

Especially at a Signature Event like the Arnold Palmer Invitational, such an exit is impactful. Withdrawing mid-round, Smotherman loses important FedEx Cup points.

Understanding the Toll of Back Injuries in Professional Golf

The repetitive and high-velocity movements that characterize the modern golf swing are major contributors to many professional golfers' back injuries. 

Smotherman's experience is similar to that of Rory McIlroy, who also had to withdraw from this year's Arnold Palmer Invitational due to lower back spasms during his Saturday warm-up.

The decision to withdraw is often made out of concern for enduring damage. Players often try to push through the pain, but back spasms can significantly reduce one's ability to rotate, a battle that Tiger Woods is famous for having throughout his career.

Such an episode at a tournament is a rapid escalation. Smotherman states that the back's unwillingness to loosen up is akin to the stiff back that caused Jason Day to withdraw from Bay Hill in 2020. 

Going forward, Smotherman will have to address the tightness through rehab, and, with any luck, he will recover in time for the many tournaments on the line, like The Players Championship.

What do you think Smotherman's year would look like after this? Tell us in the comments and read more at Daily Club Golf!

Written by

Abhishek Sharma

Edited by

Oajaswini Prabhu