Dustin Johnson’s Masters bid in tatters after tumbling down stairs and injuring his back at home

World number one Dustin Johnson was in doubt for the Masters after injuring his lower back on Wednesday in a “serious” fall on the eve of the year’s first men’s major golf championship.

The 32-year-old American star landed “very hard” after a fall down stairs at his rented house in Augusta, his agent said, but still hopes to be fit enough to tee off in Thursday’s first round.

Before the announcement sent shock waves through Augusta National Golf Club, Johnson was the oddsmakers favourite to collect the champion’s green jacket after winning his past three starts.

“At roughly 3pm today, Dustin took a serious fall on a staircase in his Augusta rental home,” his agent, David Winkle, said in a statement. “He landed very hard on his lower back and is now resting, although quite uncomfortably.

“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.”