Matt Fitzpatrick has drawn a hard line in the sand. The 2022 US Open winner says he will not play the season-ending DP World Tour events in the Middle East while the Iran War rages on. This is not a mild preference. It is a safety refusal from a player who knows the stakes. Per Yahoo Sports, Fitzpatrick told reporters at Wentworth that he simply feels unsafe. He has a new baby. He has seen the news. He is done guessing.
A Father’s Fear Takes Priority
The context here is personal and immediate. Fitzpatrick welcomed a child in August. That life change shifted his entire perspective on risk. “Being completely honest as things stand right now, I would say I’m not that comfortable,” Fitzpatrick said. He repeated the point clearly: “No, I wouldn’t be that comfortable.” The tour wants him in Abu Dhabi and Dubai for the final two weeks of November. The region faces ballistic missiles and drone strikes. Golf Digest reported the area has been targeted. A father does not sign up for that gamble lightly.
Other players feel the same tension. Ryan Fox told Golf Monthly he is watching the situation closely. If the decision feels wrong, Fox might skip the trip. Yet the tour leadership remains silent on the final call. Fitzpatrick noted the frustration of waiting. He knows the UK government changed its travel advice from “essential only” to a slightly better level. But he also knows things can change overnight. The uncertainty is the real enemy here.
Why the Tour Must Listen Now
The DP World Tour is dragging its feet on a decision that needs to be made yesterday. Fitzpatrick feels his voice won’t move the needle. “I just don’t feel like my opinion would hold that much weight,” he told Golf Monthly. He is right to feel small against the corporate machine. But ignoring a top-4 world-ranked player is a mistake. The tour claims it is taking advice from international experts. That is not enough. Players are the ones walking the course. They are the ones paying the price if things go wrong.
F1 is facing similar trouble with its own races in the region. Fitzpatrick asked the obvious question: “I’ve heard they might not be going there, so that begs the question, would we?” If the biggest motorsport series pulls out, why would golf stay? The tour says it intends to play as scheduled. That stance looks reckless when the headlines are filled with war. The $9 million prize in Abu Dhabi is a lot of money. But it is not worth a life.
The Cost of Waiting
Time is running out for the tour to fix this mess. The events are set for November 5 and 12. The clock is ticking. Fitzpatrick admits he has not even qualified yet for some of these spots. He is planning a winter break anyway. “I’m not sure I’m planning on going anyway,” he said. That is a polite way of saying he is out. The tour cannot force him to fly into a war zone. They need to stop pretending the risk is low. The players are not paid to make these decisions. But they are the ones who have to live with them.
