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Johnson, the U.S. Open champion, is favorite to win the
Masters title after victories in his last three tournaments.
"At roughly 3:00 pm today, Dustin took a serious fall on a
staircase in his Augusta rental home," 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. I will
refrain from commenting further until I know more about Dustin's
condition."
The Masters starts in Augusta on Thursday with Johnson scheduled
to play alongside fellow Americans Bubba Watson and Jimmy Walker
in the last group out.
No world number one has captured the Masters Green Jacket since
Tiger Woods in 2002.
"It's a funny game. It doesn't matter how good you're playing,
you can still not win," Johnson, who became world number one in
February, said on Tuesday.
"I've got a lot of confidence in my game right now, especially
with the way I've been playing the last few tournaments. But,
you know, anything can happen."
Apart from top-10 finishes the last two years, Johnson has a
modest record at the Masters.
His dreams of winning last year were ruined by two double-bogeys
in the final round. He tied for fourth, four shots behind winner
Danny Willett.
It is not the first time Johnson's bid for a Green Jacket has
been hit by injury.
The big-hitting American was forced out of the 2012 Master after
injuring his back while lifting a jet ski.
(Editing by Steve Keating)
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