Why did Hideki Matsuyama withdraw today? Japanese golfer removed from BMW Championship field

Hideki Matsuyama's chances at winning his first FedEx Cup championship took a massive blow on Friday.

The Japanese golfer was forced to withdraw from the BMW Championship at Castle Pines today. He shot 5-under par in Thursday's Round 1, good for solo possession of second place, only behind Keegan Bradley. However, he will not be able to finish the tournament.

Matsuyama is coming off a win in the first stage of the FedEx Cup playoffs, finishing first at the FedEx St. Jude Championship. After nearly losing a five-stroke lead on the final day,  the 2021 Masters champion battled back to fight off Xander Schauffele and Viktor Hovland for the win.

Matsuyama entered the competition at Castle Pines third in the standings. The BMW Championship is the second of the three stages in the FedEx Cup playoffs.

The 32-year-old recently won a bronze medal at the 2024 Olympics in Paris, with Schauffele and Tommy Fleetwood being the only golfers to place ahead of him on the podium. He also won this year’s The Genesis Invitational, his first win in two years.

Here is more on Matsuyama's withdrawal from the BMW Championship and what it means for the rest of his FedEx Cup playoffs.

MORE: FedEx Cup playoff standings, points format, more to know

Why did Hideki Matsuyama withdraw from BMW Championship?

Matsuyama was forced to withdraw before kicking off Friday's second round at the BMW Championship due to lower back pain, according to the PGA .

This marks the second year in a row that an injury has forced Matsuyama to withdraw from the BMW Championship. In 2023, he was removed from the competition after an injury flared up while warming up for the second round.

Can Hideki Matsuyama still win the FedEx Cup playoffs?

While Matsuyama's placement in the standings will undoubtedly take a hit after this weekend, he earned enough points previously that he will still be among the top-30 point scorers in the FedEx Cup standings, making him eligible for next year's final tournament, the Tour Championship.

However, his health will dictate whether or not he is available to play at East Lake Golf Club.