World number one Dustin Johnson has withdrawn from the Masters as a result of the back injury he sustained in a heavy fall on the eve of the tournament.
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The world number one fell on the stairs at his rental home on Wednesday and was consequently a doubt throughout Thursday with conflicting reports emerging on the state of his fitness.
"I just slipped going down the stairs and landed on my lower back. It's just really tight," explained the American - who came into this week having won on each of his last three PGA Tour starts.
"I was making some swings on the range, I could go max about 80 per cent and it's still just so tight, it just wouldn't let me ... I couldn't get through.
"The backswing was fine, I could make a good backswing, but every time down, like right at impact, it would just catch. I just don't feel like there was any chance of me even competing.
"It hurts. I was doing everything I could to try and play. Last night, ice, heat, ice - I was up pretty much all night trying to get it ready for today. I've been worked on all morning and obviously I can make some swings, it's just I can't swing full, I can't make my normal swing.
"Obviously I want to play, more than anything ... but I just can't swing the club."
Initially, it was reported that Johnson was going to tee off at Augusta and he made his way over to the first tee to begin his round.
However, the American was seen grimacing during his practice swings and shortly after it was confirmed by the PGA and European Tours that the U.S. Open champion had pulled out of the tournament.
Dustin Johnson has withdrawn from #TheMasters. pic.twitter.com/PrpBSe6Rbc
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) April 6, 2017
After breaking his major duck at the last year, Johnson was the favourite to claim victory in Georgia this week having embarked on a three-tournament winning streak.
However, his injury means he will become just the second world number one – after Tiger Woods in 2014 – to miss the Masters.
World Number One to miss #TheMasters:
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) April 6, 2017
2014: Tiger Woods
2017: Dustin Johnson
That's it. pic.twitter.com/7yjuPe57P4