VIRGINIA WATER, UK — Sepp Straka withdrew from two Race to Dubai playoff events so he could go home when his 2-month-old son was discharged from the hospital for the first time in his life.
Straka, who was born and raised in Austria before moving to Georgia as a teenager, was exempted from competing in next week’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship as a Ryder Cup player.
Straka was the only European not to compete in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth in the run-up to the Ryder Cup. His son was born in early August and has been in the neonatal intensive care unit ever since. He improved enough for Straka to compete at Bethpage Black.
“Paige and I are pleased to share that our son Thomas is preparing to return home in the coming weeks after spending the first two months of his life in intensive care,” Straka said in a statement. “We are extremely grateful to the dedicated medical team who have cared for him since his early arrival in August and helped him grow stronger.”
He said he would withdraw from the DP World Tour Championship in Abu Dhabi and next week in Dubai to spend time with his family.
“I need to be in Alabama to support Paige and make sure Thomas gets the best start possible as he transitions from the NICU to home,” he said.
He will miss the minimum of four tournaments on the European Tour. In light of Straka’s son’s situation, tour chief executive Guy Kinnings revised the qualification requirement from four events to two, allowing Straka to remain eligible in 2026.
Straka is a two-time winner on this year’s PGA Tour, including the signature event at the Philadelphia Cricket Club, and is No. 15 in the world rankings.
