Ryder Cup players Matt Fitzpatrick, Shane Lowry, Robert MacIntyre and Justin Rose are among the notable names who have elected against featuring in next week’s Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship.
Only the top 70 available players in the season-long Race to Dubai standings will feature at Yas Links, the first of two events in the Middle East for the DP World Tour Play-Offs.
The entry list was released on Monday after the conclusion of the regular season ahead of the tournament taking place from November 5-8, live on Sky Sports, with 10 eligible players not named in the field.
Several of those not involved have previously expressly safety concerns about playing the season-ending events in the Middle East, with Houthi strikes in Saudi Arabia heightening fears of a wider regional conflict.
Fitzpatrick sits 10th in the Race to Dubai standings and is set to defend his DP World Tour Championship the following week, having defeated Rory McIlroy in a play-off last year to claim the trophy for a third time.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Highlights from the final day of the 2025 DP World Championship in Dubai, where Matt Fitzpatrick edged out Rory McIlroy
Speaking about the possibility of playing in the Middle East, Fitzpatrick said at last month’s BMW PGA Championship: “No, I wouldn’t be that comfortable.
“If the [DP World] Tour does go, I’m sure they have had the best advice possible on what that looks like. As things stand right now, I wouldn’t necessarily be too keen on going.”
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Matt Fitzpatrick voices his concerns at the BMW PGA Championship over DP World Tour play-off events in the Middle East
Open champion Ryan Fox is the highest-ranked player in the Race to Dubai standings not playing in Abu Dhabi, although the New Zealander is currently still scheduled to feature at the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.
“I’m obviously of the opinion that the Tour is doing their due diligence,” Fox said last month. “If they feel like it’s safe for us to go, I’m willing to support that. But I can understand, also, why guys have some reservations.”
Lowry (16th), Alex Fitzpatrick (24th), Min Woo Lee (38th), Ludvig Åberg (45th), MacIntyre (56th), Si Woo Kim (62nd), Rose (69th) and Ryan Gerard (70th) are the other eligible players not listed in the field.
The UK’s Foreign Office doesn’t currently have any restrictions to travel to the region, although updated guidelines on the government website warns those travelling “should be prepared for possible flight cancellations, airspace closures, and travel disruptions”.
The US government updated their travel advisories on Friday to “reflect the threat of increased Iranian-supported Houthi regional aggression”. Their guidelines say travellers should “reconsider travel to the United Arab Emirates due to terrorism and armed conflict”.
No player has to publicly specify whether their reason not to play is related to safety concerns or their own schedule, while only the top 50 available golfers after Abu Dhabi then progress to the DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates a week later.
Eugenio Chacarra leads the Race to Dubai standings heading into the final two events of the season
Race to Dubai battle heats up in Abu Dhabi
The top five players in the Race to Dubai standings are all currently scheduled to feature in Abu Dhabi, where the result is likely to play a key role in determining who ends the season and No 1 and lifts the Harry Vardon Trophy.
Eugenio Chacarra tops the standings by 669.27 points after winning the DP World India Championship, a third victory of the season, with Patrick Reed and McIlroy his two closest challengers.
Two-time DP World Tour winner Casey Jarvis and defending Abu Dhabi champion Aaron Rai complete the top five, where there’s a $9m (£6.76m) prize purse and the winner picks up $1.53m (£1.15m).
Tommy Fleetwood won back-to-back Abu Dhabi titles in 2017 and 2018 and Tyrrell Hatton is also in the field, having previously won the 2021 edition, with both Englishmen and former world No 1 Adam Scott also in the field.
Who will win the Race to Dubai? Watch the Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship and the DP World Tour Championship live on Sky Sports Golf. Get the latest Sky Sports deals or stream with no contract.
Leave a Reply