Augusta, GA …

“It sucks!” was Dustin Johnson’s reaction in advising a bizarre back injury has forced him out of the Masters.

The World No. 1 withdrew just moments before he was tee-up as hot favourite in the first round at Augusta National on Thursday.

Johnson looked set to tee off shortly after 2pm local time despite the back injury he suffered in a “serious fall” in his rented house on Wednesday afternoon.

“It just sucks and for me to pull out if very sad after such a freak accident,” he said.

Dustin Johnson fronts the Masters media to advise he was withdrawing from the Masters

“I could swing about 70% which was about the maximum for my back swing but it was just at impact that was worst.

“Then as I headed to the first tee my heart was in it and I wanted to play but the more I thought about it, the more I thought I didn’t have a chance if I played.

“It was a very difficult decision to have to make to sit out one of my favourite golf tournaments of the year for me.  I just to play so much and not being able to compete like this hurts.

“The worst part about it is that in two days time I should be fine and come the weekend I will be ready to play golf again but at this second I can’t swing and it just sucks.”

Johnson had earlier gone through a short initial warm-up on the range before receiving treatment, the 32-year-old then returning to the range and appearing more at ease as he hit shots under the watchful eye of coach Butch Harmon.