Fitzpatrick Withdraws From DP World Tour Championship
Matt Fitzpatrick skips the Dubai finale amid security concerns about travel to the Middle East during the ongoing Iran war.
Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in Golf
Matt Fitzpatrick, ranked No. 14 in the Race to Dubai, has withdrawn from the 2026 DP World Tour Championship. Shane Lowry, Alex Fitzpatrick, Min Woo Lee, Ludvig Aberg and others also skipped the event.
Why it matters
The tournament, with a $10 million prize fund, is the season finale and will be held in Dubai, with several leading players absent. Fitzpatrick cited growing concerns about traveling to the Middle East amid the ongoing Iran war.
Matt Fitzpatrick is ranked No. 14 and Shane Lowry No. 20 in the Race to Dubai, while Alex Fitzpatrick sits 35th and Min Woo Lee 48th. The finale carries a $10 million prize fund.
The players
Matt Fitzpatrick
An English professional golfer who won the 2025 DP World Tour Championship and is among the sport's leading players on the European circuit.
Shane Lowry
An Irish professional golfer and major champion who is ranked 20th in the Race to Dubai rankings.
DP World Tour
The European-based professional golf tour that organizes the Race to Dubai and the season-ending DP World Tour Championship.
The details
Matt Fitzpatrick has not competed since the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, where he finished tied for 17th, and he won the 2025 DP World Tour Championship. Shane Lowry has not played since the DP World India Championship, where he tied for 15th.
Timeline
August 2026: Matt Fitzpatrick's child was born.
November 2026: The DP World Tour Championship takes place in Dubai at Jumeirah Golf Estates.
Season Trajectory
The withdrawals reshape the closing stretch of the Race to Dubai, where several contenders are absent from the finale in Dubai. The absences mirror a broader pattern of players avoiding Middle East events during the ongoing Iran war.
With Fitzpatrick and Lowry absent, the Race to Dubai finale will look different for fans and fantasy players tracking the standings. Those following the season race should watch which contenders actually tee it up in Dubai.
The takeaway
Fans following the Race to Dubai should expect a finale shaped by withdrawals, and should track the final field in Dubai to see how the standings settle.
What happens next
The DP World Tour Championship takes place later this month in Dubai at Jumeirah Golf Estates.
Further reading
For more on the season race, see the Golf section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by EssentiallySports.
