WORLD NUMBER ONE Dustin Johnson has emerged as an injury doubt for the first golf Major of the year after taking a “serious fall” on the eve of the US Masters.

Johnson is the favourite to take the honours at Augusta National this weekend, and claim the first Green Jacket of his career, but he has injured his back after taking a tumble down the stairs at his rental property.

The 32-year-old won the first Major of his career at the US Open last year, edging out Ireland’s Shane Lowry on the final day, and has won his last three tournaments. But this freak accident has now put his participation in doubt for the Masters, which begins tomorrow.

“At roughly 3pm today, Dustin took a serious fall on a staircase in his Augusta rental home,” a statement from Johnson’s agent David Winkle read on Golf Digest.

“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.”

The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!

Ugh, the Masters Par 3 competition has been abandoned because of bad weather

McIlroy: ‘After the backlash, I’d think twice about another round with Trump’