LOS ANGELES — In case you see Collin Morikawa squatting as a substitute of leaning to tee up the ball otherwise at this week’s U.S. Open, there is a purpose why: he isn’t taking any possibilities together with his again.
After withdrawing from the Memorial Event two weeks in the past with again spasms and never enjoying in final week’s RBC Heritage Open, Morikawa is again on the course. He mentioned Tuesday he has no ache swinging however is taking each precaution he can to keep away from making any damaging actions.
“I’ve hit out of tough, I’ve hit out of bunkers, no ache,” Morikawa mentioned. “Nothing lingering anyplace else within the physique both, in order that’s good.
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At Memorial, Morikawa was simply 2 pictures off the lead going into the ultimate spherical when, as he defined, he skilled again spasms throughout a morning exercise of “reactive workout routines.” In response to him, it was not due to something golf- or swing-related.
“It was bizarre. I’ve had, I would not say again issues, however I’ve had a bit of again ache right here and there,” Morikawa mentioned. “It sucked. … I took a couple of days off, obtained some relaxation, obtained some rehab, talked with my group, we obtained began hitting balls late final week, and we’re swinging nice.”
Morikawa, who grew up within the close by San Fernando Valley, mentioned he feels golfers accomplish that a lot leaning and bending with their backs that it is simple to develop dangerous motion patterns, so he has been engaged on bending correctly from the hip in order to not put further stress on his again. There have been no modifications to Morikawa’s training, warm-up routine or method — solely the transfer he’ll do each time he has to tee up the ball, ensuring he makes use of his knees and never his again.
“I just about squat down and tee it up,” Morikawa mentioned with a smile. “Do not take an excessive amount of into that, it is simply precautionary.”
His well being however, Morikawa added that this can be a main he is had circled on his calendar for a very long time. He wasn’t going to overlook it.
“It is a main that I cared about once I was in faculty and I knew about LACC internet hosting a U.S. Open,” Morikawa mentioned. “I did not know the place I used to be going to be, however that is the one which I needed to make it and be at simply because it’s dwelling for me. This week means a lot. It at all times might be. It will at all times be actually particular.”