Brian Keogh in Miami

Justin Rose's Masters preparations suffered a blow when he pulled out of the $8 million WGC-CA Championship in Miami.

The English ace, 26, withdrew yesterday after "tweaking" his lower back but hopes to get back into action in next week's Tavistock Cup match in Orlando.

The Florida-based Brit has not played since he lost to Trevor Immelman in the quarter-finals of the WGC - Accenture Match Play Championship in Tucson three weeks ago.

World No 31 Rose injured his back shortly after the Arizona event - where he beat Phil Mickelson in the second round - forcing him to pull out of the PODS Championship and last week;s Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill.

Writing on his website, he said: "I had a few twinges in my back, which turned out to be a disc problem and very common to all golfers.

"This has required more treatment and rest than originally expected, so I have been getting intensive treatment this week here in Orlando.

"I am very disappointed about as the Florida swing is a time of year that I really look forward to."

Coach Nick Bradley confirmed that Rose had hit balls at his Lake Nona base in Orlando earlier this week but "twinges" in his back forced him to withdraw as a precaution with just three weeks to go before the Masters at Augusta.

Rose is expected to tee it up for hosts Lake Nona when they take on a Tiger Woods' Isleworth in the annual Tavistock Cup match next Monday and Tuesday.

Rose is the only member of the world's top 50 missing from this week's WGC event at Doral's Blue Monster.

The field has now been reduced to 73 with Swede Henrik Stenson and Ireland's Padraig Harrington the leading Europeans in action.