Ponte Vedra Beach, FL – Still struggling with an injured back, Dustin Johnson has withdrawn from next week's Players Championship.
Johnson started experiencing back problems in January, when he was forced to withdraw from the Humana Challenge. He came back to compete in six events, but has not started since mid-March's WGC-Cadillac Championship.
The American was also forced to withdraw from the Masters because he aggravated his back while lifting a jet ski at his Florida home.
"Obviously, I am very disappointed to miss the Players Championship, as it's our championship and a special week," Johnson said in a statement. "However, after several weeks of rest and rehab on my back, I am excited to finally be feeling better and have been cleared to get back to work. It's been a much longer road than I expected."
Johnson, ranked 17th in the world, added in his statement that he "may have" rushed his return to competition following knee surgery last winter.
"I won't make the same mistake this time. There's no point in me taking any dumb risks and hurrying my return just because I'm anxious. The next time I tee it up, I'm going to be healthy, strong and 100 percent ready."
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