Shane Lowry has understandably cited ‘family reasons’ for a decision this week not to tee-up in the European Tour season-ending DP World Tour Championship.

It’s the first time Lowry has missed the hosting of the mega-millions last event of the year since the inaugural hosting of the Race to Dubai final money-counting tournament in 2011.

Three years ago, Lowry had a final round hole-in-one on route to a 63 to share second in the DP World

However, Lowry is focussing more on his young family as the festive season approaches and also given, he spent many good weeks in the States just recently away from wife, Wendy and young daughter, Iris.

Shane Lowry with wife, Wendy and daughter, Iris at last year’s Open Championship.

And if the reigning Open Champion were to have travelled to Dubai it would have meant under Irish Government COVID guidelines he would have to go into self-isolation for a fortnight and rule out seeing till after Christmas.

“I’m taking a few weeks off golf now, but I’m trying to train as much as I can and get ready for what 2021 is going to bring,” said Lowry.

“It’s an important time of year to be spending time with the family but I would not be able to do that if I travelled to Dubai.”

Instead, Lowry will pack away his clubs to early in the New Year and return to compete in Hong Kong, Abu Dhabi and teeing-up in the third Saudi International in February