The list of players electing not to contest next week’s Abu Dhabi Championship in the UAE capital alarmingly grows.
Among the updated list of withdrawals now includes European Ryder Cup winners in Justin Rose, former Abu Dhabi champion Shane Lowry, Matt Fitzpatrick, Robert MacIntyre and Ludwig Aberg.
The six have been joined by Open Champion Ryan Fox who is lying sixth on the Race to Dubai rankings.
GROWING CONCERN ….
As the list of those who’ve qualified on the #RaceToDubai & are choose to WD from next week’s @ADGolfChamps continues to grow
Recent WDs include victorious @RyderCupEurope players and @TheOpen champs
Though positive news as leading five on money-list will be competing @YasLinksGC and penultimate event of the DPWT season
Read: https://t.co/pJ1dJxkGjI
Getty
✅ @TOURMISS
— Fatiha (@TOURMISS) October 27, 2026
Looking at the Race to Dubai rankings there is many more inside the top 70 but are not listed in the Yas Links field and they include Alex Fitzpatrick (24th on the rankings), Aussie Min Woo Lee (38th), Si Woo Kim (62nd) and Ryan Gerard (70th).
Matt Fitzpatrick had expressed doubt in travelling to the UAE given the what has been taken place in the Middle East,.
“As things stand right now, I would say I’m not that comfortable (playing in the Middle East)”, said Fitzpatrick,
“A few things have changed for me. I had a child in August and that changes things a bit more. It would feel a little bit weird, given what I’m reading elsewhere.”
Young dad MacIntyre spoke during the week of last month’s defence of his Dunhill Links title to The Scotsman,
“This is potentially the end of my season right here”, he said at St. Andrews.
“I feel like it’s been a good year. It’s been a learning curve, trying to manage life outside of golf and life on the golf course. It’s been a great year”.
On a positive note, the DP World Tour has announced many who will tee-up in Abu Dhabi including past champions Tommy Fleetwood and Tyrrell Hatton along with past Masters champ Adam Scott.
As well, the leading five on the Race to Dubai will tee-up and they include Spaniard Eugenio Chacarra, Patrick Reed, Rory McIlroy, South African Casey Jarvis and the current fifth ranked and defending Abu Dhabi champion Aaron Rai.
