Ryder Cup star Sepp Straka reaches decision ahead of DP World Tour Playoffs

Sepp Straka has confirmed his participation in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship from 6-9 November after taking advantage of a Ryder Cup loophole. 

Straka's schedule update was confirmed to GolfMagic by a DP World Tour spokesperson.

There had been some uncertainty as to whether Straka would be able to play in Abu Dhabi as a result of "personal issues". 

But Straka has now officially entered. 

It unfortunately came to light ahead of last month's Ryder Cup that Straka’s wife had given birth prematurely. 

European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald soon thankfully confirmed that "everything is okay". 

Straka understandably took some time out of competitive action to be with his family. 

He was the only European Ryder Cup player to miss out on competing in the BMW PGA at Wentworth before the Ryder Cup. 

The Austrian went on to perform admirably at the Ryder Cup given the circumstances.

He teamed up with Jon Rahm to win their Friday Fourballs match 3&2 over Scottie Scheffler and JJ Spaun. 

But he would lose his Saturday Fourballs match alongside Rahm to Spaun and Xander Schauffele 1 down. 

Straka would also lose his Sunday Singles match once again to Spaun 2&1.

That mattered little in the end as Europe held on for a famous 15-13 win.

It marked the first away win at the Ryder Cup since Medinah in 2012. 

Donald also became the first captain since Tony Jacklin in 1989 to win two Ryder Cups on the bounce. 

The victory also marked a second straight Ryder Cup win for Straka, who represented Europe at Marco Simone in 2023. 

Straka went 1-2 at both Ryder Cup contests taking his overall record to 2-4-0. 

He was a captain's pick both times. 

But back to the top of the story and fast forward a month since that gruelling week in New York, and Straka has decided to enter the Abu Dhabi Championship from 6-9 November. 

It will mark his second appearance in the tournament.

Straka did not play in the event last season but he missed the cut on his sole start in 2023. 

Sepp Straka and others benefit from Ryder Cup rule at DP World Tour Playoffs

Although Straka (149th) finished well outside the top 70 in the DP World Tour Rankings to make it into the Abu Dhabi field, the Austrian is able to take advantage of a Ryder Cup loophole in order to tee it up at Yas Links.

After competing in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, Straka will then have the chance to play in the season-ending DP World Tour Championship that is reserved for the top 50 in the standings from 13-16 November.

Straka has yet to officially confirm his participation in the season finale, but we should learn his status soon. 

Under the current rules, all European Ryder Cup players obtain a free pass into the DP World Tour Playoffs no matter where they are positioned in the DP World Tour Rankings. 

The little-known rule also benefits Ryder Cup heroes Ludvig Aberg and Shane Lowry, who like Straka finished outside the top 70. 

Aberg and Lowry have both confirmed their participation in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and DP World Tour Championship. 

Lowry, who holed the winning putt at the Ryder Cup, is currently ranked 112th in the DP World Tour Rankings, while Aberg is 80th. 

Aberg will be making his tournament debut at the DP World Tour Championship. 

"Dubai has always been a great place to play golf and I'm really looking forward to being back at Jumeirah Golf Estates," said Lowry.

"The DP World Tour Championship is the perfect way to finish our season, and I'll be giving it everything to finish the year on a high."

Aberg added: "I'm really looking forward to making my DP World Tour Championship debut.

"I've heard great things about the Earth Course from the other guys, so I'm excited about ending the season in Dubai."

Tommy Fleetwood was also going to rely on the Ryder Cup player category to make the Playoffs too but he took care of business in the end when landing the DP World India Championship earlier this month.

Fleetwood's eighth career DP World Tour title vaulted him up the DP World Tour Rankings to a current 26th. 

He's also now up to a career-best fifth in the world rankings. 

The popular Englishman is in the form of his life at the moment having registered his first PGA Tour title at the Tour Championship in August, a win that saw him lift the FedEx Cup. 

He also top-scored for Europe at the 2025 Ryder Cup with four points. 

Fleetwood is excited to be sleeping in his own bed at DP World Tour Championship. 

"The Earth Course has been my home course for the last three years, so it’s always special to play the DP World Tour Championship somewhere that feels so familiar," said Fleetwood, who has lived in Dubai since 2022.

"It’s a great test of golf, and the atmosphere is always incredible. 

"I’ve had some fantastic memories in Dubai over the years, and finishing the season in front of family and friends gives me that extra bit of motivation to finish strong."

One major Ryder Cup player absentee from the DP World Tour Playoffs, however, will be Rahm, who has decided to start his off-season early in light of his upcoming DP World Tour appeals hearing that also involves Tyrrell Hatton. 

Viktor Hovland is also not in the field in Abu Dhabi and he has yet to confirm his participation in Dubai.

Justin Rose will also miss Abu Dhabi but he has confirmed his participation for the DP World Tour Championship. 

The rest of Donald's 2025 European Ryder Cup team are scheduled to play in both events. 

Both fields will be once again headlined by tournament favourite Rory McIlroy, who is going in search of a seventh Race to Dubai and a fourth straight. 

Should grand slam champion McIlroy go on to win the season-long race as expected then he will move to within one title of eight-time European Tour Order of Merit record holder Colin Montgomerie. 

England's Marco Penge is in second place in the Race to Dubai standings after having won three times on the road this season. 

Straka looking to cap brilliant season

Straka has enjoyed his best ever season on the PGA Tour having won twice. 

His first win of the season came at The American Express in January and he then added a second title at the Truist Championship in May.

Straka pushed himself up into the world's top 10 for the first time in his career off the back of winning his fourth career title at Quail Hollow Club. But he has since slipped to 15th. 

Straka has also confirmed he will be playing in Tiger Woods' annual Hero World Challenge at Albany in The Bahamas from 4-7 December. 

A strong showing in the DP World Tour Playoffs and in Woods' tournament would likely see Straka end the season back inside the top 10.