Collin Morikawa is playing through a genuine injury scare at the RBC Heritage, admitting, "I've never been this scared in my life to go out and play." The two-time major champion's post-round comments reveal the mental and physical battle he's facing just weeks after a back injury forced him to withdraw from the Players Championship.

Despite the fear, Morikawa's resilience is on full display. After missing three weeks, he roared back at the Masters, shooting 11-under over his final three rounds to tie for seventh. Now at Harbour Town, he's continued his strong form, opening with a 67 and a 68 to position himself in the weekend mix. His performance is even more impressive considering he's swinging at what he estimates is only 50 percent capacity, prioritizing longevity over power.

"It's hard to trust the body right now," Morikawa explained. "There's just no trust, and that's the hardest thing... I'm trying to last throughout the entire week." This represents a new challenge for the 27-year-old, who has dealt with back issues before but never experienced an acute injury mid-swing on the course until last month.

His current strategy marks a significant shift. Instead of pushing his limits, Morikawa is learning to work with what he has, focusing on protection and grinding out rounds. He called his Masters performance "one of the best tournaments I could have asked for," a testament to his strategic adjustment and mental toughness. As he navigates the weekend at the RBC Heritage, the golf world is watching a champion adapt his game under physical duress, proving that sometimes the greatest victories come from simply staying in the fight.