Rahm Explains "Very Difficult" Decision To Withdraw From Race To Dubai
The Spaniard is third in the Race to Dubai standings but will not compete at this week's DP World Tour Championship...


Thank you for signing up to Golf Monthly. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
Jon Rahm says he came to the "difficult decision" to withdraw from the DP World Tour Championship after lengthy discussions with his team.
The World No.1 lies third on the Race to Dubai points list with just one event remaining but will not be lifting his second European Tour Order of Merit after deciding to stay at home.
His reasoning is that the "many ups and downs" of the season, which featured two positive Covid-19 tests and his first child being born, have "taken a lot out of me."
It is a huge blow to the European Tour, which will now see its Race to Dubai decided by, most likely, a battle between Open champion Collin Morikawa and BMW PGA Championship winner Billy Horschel.
Rahm is third on the list behind the two Americans, with Tyrrell Hatton in fourth and Min Woo Lee in fifth.
Other notable names to withdraw from this week's event include Viktor Hovland and Justin Rose.
Luckily for the Tour, Rory McIlroy is set to play in the Dubai showpiece, where a winner's cheque of $3m is up for grabs.
McIlroy, Morikawa, Horschel, Garcia, Hatton, Reed and Ancer are among a number of big names set to tee it up over Jumeirah Golf Estates' Earth Course this week.
A statement from Jon Rahm read:
“After lengthy discussions with my team, I have come to the difficult decision not to travel to Dubai next week.
"The demands of a long season with many ups and downs has taken a lot out of me.
"I feel I need to take time to recharge my batteries while spending quality time with my family.
"I would like to take this opportunity to wish DP World and the European Tour all the best for the season-ending event, which is always such a special tournament.
"I would also like to reiterate my congratulations to both for the announcement of the DP World Tour earlier this week, and I look forward very much to competing on the DP World Tour next year."
Get the Golf Monthly Newsletter
Tips on how to play better, latest equipment reviews, interviews with the biggest names and more.

Elliott Heath is our Senior Staff Writer and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news, features, courses and travel sections as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as four Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays at West Byfleet Golf Club in Surrey, where his handicap index floats anywhere between 2-5. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!
Elliott is currently playing:
Driver: Titleist TSR4
3 wood: TaylorMade SIM2 Max
Hybrid: TaylorMade SIM Max
Irons: Mizuno MP5 4-PW
Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58
Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5
Ball: TaylorMade TP5x
-
-
Who is Belen Mozo? 15 Things You Didn't Know About The Solheim Cup Opening Ceremony Host
Get to know talented amateur Belen Mozo better
By Elliott Heath Published
-
‘It Was Devastating’ - Bradley Reveals Netflix Filmed Ryder Cup Phone Call
Keegan Bradley says a Netflix film crew rushed around to his house to film him as he was told he didn't make the Ryder Cup team
By Paul Higham Published