Collin Morikawa is chasing a second PGA Championship title this week—but first, he needs his back to cooperate.

The two-time major winner, who captured the Wanamaker Trophy in 2020, has been navigating a frustrating, start-and-stop season. After a red-hot opening stretch that included his first victory in 28 months, a nagging back issue has thrown his momentum into question.

It all began at The Players Championship in March. Just one hole into the tournament, back spasms forced Morikawa to withdraw—his first WD of the 2026 season. Since then, the 29-year-old has pulled out of two more events and is learning to manage a "cranky" back that comes and goes without warning.

"I wish I was 100% healthy," Morikawa admitted. "The body doesn't feel bad, it's just uncomfortable. There's a trust factor. It's a very weird feeling—not trusting your body, yet knowing things will be okay. I'm taking it day by day."

Before the injury, Morikawa looked like the player who dominated headlines in 2020. He won at Pebble Beach, finished T7 at The Genesis Invitational, and placed fifth at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. But after the back spasms at TPC Sawgrass, every swing has come with uncertainty.

He withdrew from the Texas Open ahead of the Masters, then battled through discomfort to finish T7 at Augusta National. The next week, again managing back pain, he placed fourth at Hilton Head. But two weeks later, he stumbled to a T62 finish at a signature event in Doral.

Morikawa skipped last week's Truist Championship—a decision he didn't originally plan for, but one he's learning to embrace.

"For me, even taking last week off—even though that wasn't the plan—it's so big to just reset," he said. "Then you come out and say, 'Man, I'm ready to go.'"

As the PGA Championship tees off at Aronimink Golf Club, Morikawa is reminded that professional golf demands more than just a perfect swing. Sometimes, it's about trusting your body enough to take the next shot.