Hideki Matsuyama (back) WDs from Wells Fargo

Hideki Matsuyama withdrew from the Wells Fargo Championship before the start of his rain-delayed first round on Thursday due to a back injury.

Matsuyama, 32, was attempting to compete for the first time since last month's Masters but pulled out just before his scheduled tee time at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, N.C.

Ranked No. 15 in the world, Matsuyama is a nine-time champion on the PGA Tour. At the 2021 Masters, he became the first Japanese golfer to win a men's major.

Matsuyama won The Genesis Invitational in February and had top-10 finishes at The Players Championship and the Valero Texas Open before a T38 at Augusta National.