PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — Collin Morikawa’s Players Championship was over almost before it began Thursday at TPC Sawgrass, where he tweaked his back taking a practice swing on the second hole of his opening round.

The 29-year-old Morikawa was forced to withdraw after experiencing obvious discomfort on the 11th tee box moments after making par on the 10th, his first (and last) hole of the day.

He was taken away in a cart, leaving his playing partners, Ludvig Åberg and Si Woo Kim, to play the rest of the round as a twosome.

“I went through all the warmups [and] felt fine,’’ he said. “It’s awful. I feel terrible. First hole, felt great, hit two great shots, hit a great putt. Teed it up, nothing felt bad. Teed it up on 11 and took one practice swing, and I just knew it was gone. It all hit me at one second, where I was like, ‘Something doesn’t feel right.’

“I took a practice swing, there it was, like not being able to swing. Trust me, I would play if I could. It’s just the worst thing in the world.”

Morikawa, who won the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in January, was one of the favorites to win this week. He also finished in a tie for seventh at the Genesis Invitational and fifth at the Arnold Palmer Invitational last week.

Though he was obviously gutted not to be able to continue, Morikawa said he’s “had this stuff before.’’

“It’s just frustrating because I don’t know what caused it,’’ he said.

Moriwaka will focus on being healthy for the Masters next month.

“I kind of know the protocols of what to do and kind of dance around it,’’ he said. “But it’s going to take a little bit of time.’’

Jhonattan Vegas was the first player of the tournament to fall victim to a water ball on the par-3 17th hole island green.

Vegas entered the hole at 3-under par through his first seven holes, took quadruple bogey and walked to the 18th tee at 1-over. He finished with a 3-over 75.

Max Homa had a dream start, holing out for eagle on the par-4 10th (his first hole) and making birdie on No. 11 to quickly get to 3-under.

He proceeded to play his next four holes in 5-over. He finished with a 1-under 71.

“It was cool,’’ Homa said of the hole-out. “It’s just rare that it actually goes in the hole, but it worked itself out perfect.’’

Of the ensuing struggle, he said, “You really have to have conversations with yourself that you’ve got to start over. It’s easier said than done.’’

Max Greyserman, from Short Hills, N.J., suffered a similar struggle as Homa.

He played the front nine in 5-under and followed that with three bogeys and a double on the first four holes of the back to give it all back. He finished with a 1-over 73.

Adam Scott, who’s playing in his 24th Players, the most of anyone in the field, is staying at the nearby home of fellow Aussie Cam Smith, who’s playing on the LIV Golf tour now, and he’s been driving Smith’s Porsche to the course every day.

Now that’s a good friend.

Scott birdied the par-3 island green 17th for the 23rd time in his career, which is second-most all time.

But he then sent his tee shot into the water on 18, took double bogey and finished with an even-par 72.

Ryan Fox withdrew before his round with an illness and was replaced by David Ford, the first alternate, who shot 74.

Later in the day, Fox posted a picture to social media of himself in a hospital bed after having had surgery to remove kidney stones.