World number one and Masters favourite, Dustin Johnson, is in doubt to take his place in the field this week after slipping and injuring his back on Wednesday.
Johnson fell down a staircase, with his agent saying that he is quite uncomfortable and has a ‘hope’ of teeing it off on Thursday.
‘He landed very hard on his lower back and is now resting, although quite uncomfortably,’ his agent, David Winkle, said. ‘He has been advised to remain immobile and begin a regimen of anti-inflammatory medication and icing, with the hope of being able to play tomorrow.’
Johnson’s race against time will be helped by the fact that he is off last on Thursday, at 14:03, alongside two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson and current PGA Championship holder Jimmy Walker.
The American is bidding to make it four wins from four starts, a feat not achieved since Tiger Woods last did. If he is unable to play, there will be no late addition to the invites only field.
