Fox to Play DP World Tour Finale in Dubai
New Zealand golfer Ryan Fox says a scheduling conflict, not the Middle East war, kept him out of this week's Abu Dhabi event.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Golf
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Ryan Fox will compete in next week's DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, the season-ending event for the tour's top 50 players with an $18 million prize purse plus $10 million in bonuses. Fox was named in a report about eleven players who declined to play the $16 million Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship over concerns about the Middle East war.
Why it matters
The withdrawals highlight how regional security concerns are affecting professional golf schedules in the United Arab Emirates. Fox says he fully intends to play in Dubai, and his stated reason for skipping Abu Dhabi is a scheduling issue rather than the war.
The DP World Tour Championship in Dubai is limited to the top 50 players on the tour and carries an $18 million prize purse plus $10 million in bonuses. The number of players who will ultimately withdraw from the Dubai event has not been reported.
The players
Ryan Fox
New Zealand professional golfer from Auckland who has qualified for the DP World Tour Championship and says a scheduling issue kept him out of Abu Dhabi.
Daniel Hillier
New Zealand professional golfer from Wellington who is competing in the Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship this week and has also qualified for the Dubai finale.
The details
Players and caddies at the Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship received emergency evacuation instructions on Monday, requiring everyone to move to the clubhouse if air horns sound or a mobile alert arrives. Fox and Daniel Hillier have both qualified for the season-ending event, and Hillier is playing this week in Abu Dhabi.
Timeline
Monday (week of November 3, 2026): Players and caddies received emergency evacuation instructions in Abu Dhabi.
This week (week of November 3, 2026): The Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship is held, with Hillier competing.
Next week (week of November 9, 2026): The DP World Tour Championship takes place in Dubai.
Season Trajectory
The DP World Tour Championship in Dubai is the season-ending event for the tour's top 50 players, so the withdrawals from Abu Dhabi matter for who makes the final field. Fox and Hillier have both qualified, meaning the regional security debate is now tied directly to the closing stretch of the season.
Fox's presence in Dubai means he is in contention for the season-ending field, and his absence from Abu Dhabi did not reflect a security decision. Fantasy and betting readers tracking the top 50 should note that Fox and Hillier are both confirmed qualifiers for the finale.
The takeaway
Regional security concerns are reshaping which players appear in the Gulf events, but qualification for the season-ending field still depends on each golfer's standing. Readers following the tour should watch the Dubai finale field next week.
What happens next
The DP World Tour Championship in Dubai is scheduled for next week, with Fox expected to compete.
Further reading
Explore more Golf coverage on Wisevoter for context on the tour's schedule and field.
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