Johnson on Masters WD: 'It sucks really bad'

Dustin Johnson did not have the best Thursday at Augusta National Golf Club after a back injury led him to withdraw just prior to his Masters start time.

"This is one of my favorite tournaments of the year," Johnson told Tom Rinaldi of ESPN. "I felt like I'm playing the best golf of my career right now, and for me to pull out, it sucks really bad."

The world No. 1 arrived in the morning, then headed to the therapy trailer around 12:30 p.m. ET before beginning a practice session that was interrupted due to the injury he suffered Wednesday evening.

It looked like Johnson was going to attempt to play when he headed to the first tee after a long meeting with his team, but he ultimately withdrew.

"I've been worked on all morning ... I can't make my normal swing and I don't feel like there is any chance of me competing," he told the Golf Channel after pulling out.

The reigning Player of the Year was the favorite coming into the week thanks to three straight wins.

He injured his lower back Wednesday in his rental home when he slipped on a flight of stairs en route to moving his car because of heavy rain.

Johnson said he did everything to try and compete Thursday, but the 32-year-old realized he was unable to go when he was standing on the first tee.

"I could go maximum 80 percent, and it's still just so tight. ... Obviously, I want to play more than anything, but sitting there on the putting green ... I obviously made a few swings over there on the putting green and just can't swing," he said.