Collin Morikawa is gearing up for the PGA Championship at Aronimink this week, aiming to capture his second Wanamaker Trophy—and he's doing it while battling an injury that's as much mental as it is physical.

The 29-year-old Californian kicked off the 2026 PGA Tour season in style, ending a two-and-a-half-year win drought with a triumphant return to the winner's circle at Pebble Beach in February. But just weeks later, disaster struck. During the first round of The Players Championship in March, Morikawa injured his back on the second hole, forcing him to navigate a painful road to recovery.

Despite not being fully healed, he made a gutsy return at The Masters last month—and remarkably, he finished tied for seventh at Augusta National. He followed that up with a T-4 finish at the RBC Heritage, proving his grit even when his body wasn't cooperating.

Now, as he prepares for the PGA Championship, Morikawa addressed the media at Aronimink on Tuesday. After pulling out of the Truist event ahead of the major, questions about his health were inevitable.

"Overall, still kind of dealing with some back stuff, honestly," Morikawa admitted. "I wish I was 100 percent healthy. The body doesn't feel bad, just it's uncomfortable, and there's a trust factor I'm having to deal with—which I've never had to deal with. I can't imagine wanting anyone to deal with it because it's just a very weird feeling of not trusting the body and yet knowing that things are going to be okay. So it's just taking it day by day, doing what I need to do. Then go out—look, it's four days of golf, one at a time—and I'm going to find a way to hopefully play some great golf starting Thursday."

Unfortunately for Morikawa, his issue has clearly evolved into a psychological hurdle as much as a physical one. When asked whether there's a lesson to be learned from his resilience, he acknowledged the challenge ahead. For fans and gear enthusiasts alike, Morikawa's journey is a testament to the mental toughness required at the highest level—and a reminder that even the best players need the right support, both on and off the course.