Coming from the Cognizant Classic as a runner-up, Austin Smotherman must have had big hopes for the $20M Arnold Palmer Invitational. But that didn’t last for too long. He was forced to walk away from the event midway after suffering a massive setback.

Round 3 started a bit off for the PGA Tour pro. He bogeyed three of the first five holes. And then he couldn’t do it anymore. The reason? Back injury.

PGA Tour Communications was quick to post: Austin Smotherman withdrew during the third round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard due to a back injury.

An hour later, an update from the pro also came up. He wrote in a comment under the official post on X. “Woke up with the tightness and spasms in my lower back. And throughout my warm-up it felt like I could give it a go. I had hopes it would loosen up and just didn’t get better.”

As good as it is to learn he didn’t give up, his injury is still a topic of concern. The 31-year-old has never had any major injury issues in the past. He withdrew from the 2024 Black Desert Championship after the first round. However, the reason behind his exit back then wasn’t revealed.

That said, what does the exit mean for Smotherman? Does it risk his chances for qualification for future events? Let’s find out!

Will missing the rest of the Arnold Palmer Invitational cost Austin Smotherman?

Austin Smotherman’s form in 2026 has been spectacular. He got a T8 finish in the American Express after he shot an incredible 21-under par in four rounds. If it weren’t for Scottie Scheffler’s incredible performance, he would have been a serious contender in the event.

Of course, Smotherman was also outstanding in the Cognizant Classic last weekend. He led the field for three rounds before losing his way on Championship Sunday. The 31-year-old still managed to secure a T2 finish in the end. It was the first runner-up finish of his career.

With such amazing performances, he was able to rise up the table on the Aon Next 10. But he barely made it to the 10th spot on the table. After his withdrawal from the Arnold Palmer Invitational, he might lose his spot in the Aon Next 10. Nicolai Højgaard is still playing the tournament at the moment. And he is sitting only a few points behind Smotherman in the rankings.

If Højgaard grabs a great finish, then he might jump into the Aon Next 10. That means he will earn a ticket to the 2026 Masters Tournament instead of Smotherman. That’s a huge loss for the 31-year-old, who has never appeared in a major in his career. So he will be eager to see what happens in the $20 million Signature event, even if he has withdrawn from it.