Hideki Matsuyama withdraws from 2024 BMW Championship due to back injury | News, results, highlights, stats and rumors

Hideki Matsuyama withdrew from the 2024 BMW Championship on Friday due to a lower back injury.

“I am disappointed to have to withdraw my participation in the BMW Championship after experiencing back pain during warm-up this morning that made it impossible for me to play today,” Matsuyama said in a statement. “Thank you to BMW and the Western Golf Association for a great experience here at Castle Pines.”

The 32-year-old had a strong first round of the event after winning the FedEx St. Jude Championship on Sunday.

In the first round at Castle Pines Golf Club, he shot 67, five under par, with six birdies. His only blemish was a bogey on the 10th hole, although he avoided mistakes throughout the rest of the round.

At the end of the day he was in second place on the leaderboard behind Keegan Bradley.

Having entered the event third in the FedEx Cup standings following his win at TPC Southwind, Matsuyama has no chance of moving up due to his back injury, but should still secure a spot in the Tour Championship field if he can play at East Lake Golf Club.

It's been an eventful year for Matsuyama. He won the Genesis Invitational on February 18 before winning an Olympic bronze medal at the Paris Games. He also won the St. Jude Championship without his caddie and swing coach, who were unable to attend the event after their passports were stolen in London.

Matsuyama is battling back pain at the BMW Championship for the second year in a row, after missing the second round in 2023 due to similar complaints.

He will try to return in time for the Tour Championship, which begins on August 29.