Friday 14 April 2017 07:42, UK
Dustin Johnson will return to action at the Wells Fargo Championship in early May, tournament organisers have confirmed.
The world No 1 was expected to be one of the leading contenders for the Masters title last week, but he was forced to withdraw moments before his first-round tee time due to a back injury he suffered in a freak accident the previous day.
Johnson had just returned to his rented house in Augusta following the cancellation of the Par 3 contest on Wednesday afternoon when he slipped on a wooden staircase and "landed hard" on his back.
The 32-year-old underwent intensive treatment overnight and into Thursday morning but, after struggling to swing at more than 80 per cent on the practice range, Johnson took the agonising decision to pull out of the first major of the year.
The Masters would have been Johnson's first appearance at a major ranked No 1 in the world having arrived at Augusta on the back of three consecutive victories, but he will now tee it up at Eagle Point Golf Club as he starts preparing for the defence of his US Open title in June.
A statement issued by Wells Fargo Championship executive director Kym Hougham read: "We certainly are excited that Dustin will be joining us in Wilmington in a few weeks. More importantly, we are glad that he is okay and will be returning to the PGA Tour."
The tournament has been moved to Eagle Point this year as the usual venue, Quail Hollow, will stage this season's PGA Championship in August.
Johnson has made only three previous appearances in the event, finishing in a tie for 29th in 2010 while missing the cut in his two other starts.
The tournament, which Rory McIlroy has won twice, often attracts a very strong field and Johnson joins the likes of Adam Scott, Jon Rahm and Phil Mickelson in committing to this year's renewal.
