Johnson gutted by freak fall

World No 1 Dustin Johnson admitted it “sucks really bad” after withdrawing from the Masters just moments before he was due to start his first round at Augusta National.

Johnson, who was the pre-tournament favourite after winning his last three events, suffered a back injury in what he termed a “freak accident” at his rented house on Wednesday afternoon.

The US Open champion slipped on a small set of stairs as he went to move his car and landed heavily on his back and left elbow.

He was able to complete a warm-up on the range yesterday under the watchful eye of coach Butch Harmon and looked set to compete, only to suddenly leave the first tee and head back into the clubhouse.

“It sucks,” said Johnson, who also missed the 2012 Masters after reportedly injuring his back lifting a jet-ski.

“My heart is in it and wants to play. I’m playing the best golf of my life and to have a freak accident happen yesterday afternoon, it sucks really bad.

“I have been worked on all morning and obviously I can take some swings, but I can’t swing full, I can’t make my normal swing and I didn’t think there was any chance I could compete.

“I could swing maybe 70 % and it still hurt. The backswing was fine, it was at impact and through impact where it would catch. My left elbow is swollen and bruised, but my back took the brunt of it.

“This is an event I look forward to every year and the worst part is I feel like in two days I’m going to be fine. By Saturday or Sunday I’m going to be fine and playing golf again.

“It was an unbelievably difficult decision (to withdraw).”