Irmo’s Dustin Johnson falls down stairs at rental home, hopeful to play Masters

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Masters favorite Dustin Johnson‘s manager says the world’s No. 1 player has taken a serious fall on a staircase on the eve of the Masters.

David Winkle of Hambric Sports says in an email that Johnson fell on the stairs of his rental home in Augusta on Wednesday. He says Johnson landed hard on his lower back and is resting with discomfort. Winkle also told ESPN’s Tom Rinaldi that they believe the injury is muscular, and Johnson is taking anti-inflammatories and icing the injury.

Winkle says Johnson will make every effort to play in the Masters when it starts on Thursday. One bit of good fortune: Johnson is playing in the final tee time on Thursday at 2:03 p.m., so he’ll have all morning to work through the injury.

Johnson has won his past three tournament starts.