Rory McIlroy to defend Players title despite withdrawal from Invitational

Northern Irishman pulls out before third round ‘I felt a twinge in my back, it became muscle spasms’ Rory McIlroy is confident of defending his Players Championship title from Thursday despite withdrawing from the Arnold Palmer Invitational 35 minutes before his third round. McIlroy suffered back spasms and was unwilling to potentially put appearances at the Players and next month’s Masters at risk by taking to the course at Bay Hill. McIlroy will also be defending the crown at Augusta Nationa