The Masters 2017: Dustin Johnson injures back, ‘hopes’ to play

Dustin Johnson was ready to enter The Masters as the favorite, but a freak back injury could keep him from even teeing off at Augusta

Dustin Johnson has long been one of the world’s best golfers. However, he’d also garnered a (warranted) reputation as a bit of a choke-artist up until last year. He would be in contention in major championships or big tournaments, but then shoot himself in the foot. After a win at the 2016 U.S. Open, though, that seemed to be behind him. And that’s one of the reasons that he was considered a favorite in 2017 at The Masters.

Another big reason as to why he was favored heading into Augusta and The Masters is the fact that he’s simply been on fire this season. In his four previous tournaments, Johnson had registered three-straight wins and a third-place finish. As the World No. 1 ranked golfer, The Masters seemed like his to lose.

Now he may have lost it before ever teeing off for Round 1.

With everyone gearing up for Thursday morning, a freak accident appeared to happen. Doug Ferguson of the Associated Press reported that Johnson somehow fell down a set of stairs, injuring his back. Ferguson also added that Johnson “hopes” to play on Thursday:

Because of the flukiness of the injury, the first inclination might be to make jokes. However, the fall he took has been widely described as being “serious” and that’s obviously the case if it could keep him out of the first major championship of 2017.

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Johnson’s status as the favorite is sure to take a hit. And, if he doesn’t play, that opens the door for a number of golfers. That obviously would put guys like Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler more heavily in play as contenders to win. It also might give rookies like Jon Rahm—who Johnson beat in the WGC-Dell Match Play Championship final—a chance to break out. But for the sake of good golf and decency, let’s hope that Johnson gets right and is on the course at Augusta on Thursday.