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Sepp Straka has announced his withdrawal from the DP World Tour Playoffs due to personal reasons. The Austrian received a special entry as a member of the European Ryder Cup team but will not compete, as he and his wife continue to care for their newborn son. Straka Preparing For Son’s Return Home Straka and his wife, Paige, welcomed a baby boy, Thomas, who arrived prematurely in August and spent time in intensive care. The Austrian said the family is preparing for Thomas to return home in the coming weeks and that he will be based in Alabama to support Paige during this important transition. Straka had earned a place in the opening event of the Playoffs, the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, and also qualified for the season-ending DP World Tour Championship due to his Ryder Cup status. However, he has chosen to skip both tournaments for now to focus on his family “Paige and I are pleased to share that we are preparing for our son, Thomas, to return home in the coming weeks after spending his initial two months of life in intensive care. We are immensely grateful to the dedicated medical teams who have cared for him and helped him grow stronger following his early arrival in August. Consequently, I will be withdrawing from both the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and the DP World Tour Championship to focus on my family during this important time,” Straka said in a statement. “I need to be in Alabama to support Paige, ensuring we give Thomas the best start possible as he transitions from NICU to home.” Straka Given Special Recognition For “Serious Personal Circumstances” The decision means Straka will not meet the usual minimum “Counting Tournament” requirement on the DP World Tour this season, which is normally four events. However, the Tour temporarily reduced this requirement to two events in recognition of his serious personal circumstances, allowing him to maintain his membership for the 2026 season. Straka’s absence from the Tour comes shortly after his role on the European Ryder Cup team, where he contributed one point in three matches as Europe defeated the United States 15–13. His son’s health had already affected his preparation and schedule, and he skipped the BMW PGA Championship before the Ryder Cup, even though he was part of the European team. The 32-year-old expressed his gratitude for the medical teams who cared for his son and thanked the many people who sent messages of support. Straka also wished the other players good luck in the upcoming Playoffs and said he looks forward to returning to competition soon.
