Big-hitting American Golf Star Dustin Johnson has withdrawn from the US Masters 2012 due to a back injury.

About 15 minutes after the announcement was made in the Masters media centre, Johnson took to Twitter to explain.

“First I have to apologize to the fans and sponsors. With heartfelt regret, I won’t be playing in the Masters due to a tweaked back. #imsorry

“You have no idea how much I wanted to walk the fairways at Augusta and fulfill what I’ve been practicing for!! I’ll have to root my buddies!”

This would have been Dustin’s fourth US Masters. His best finish is a tie for 30th in his 2009 debut.

Johnson has played in seven golf events this year with three straight top-10 finishes starting at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. He withdrew from the PGA TOUR 2012 Humana Challenge earlier this year with a back injury and had taken the last three weeks off to prepare for Augusta National.

The Masters field is now 96 players. To access the field, click here.

To access first round tee times and pairings, click here.

Source: PGA TOUR, Powered by the GolfbloggerUK Network