Sepp Straka withdraws from second leg of PGA Tour's playoffs due to 'private family matter'

European Ryder Cup hopeful Sepp Straka has withdrawn from the second leg of the PGA Tour's playoffs. 

Straka was eligible to compete at the BMW Championship as one of the top 50 in the FedEx Cup standings. 

But the 32-year-old won't be playing in Maryland due to a 'private family matter'. 

The Tour's official communications department confirmed Straka's withdrawal on 11 August. 

Straka will not be replaced in the field. The $20m event gets underway on Thursday, with World No.1 Scottie Scheffler the favourite to clinch his fifth individual win of the season. 

Masters champion Rory McIlroy is also back in action following a two-week break. 

In a statement, Straka's manager Butley Melnyk said the golfer still intends to compete in the season-ending Tour Championship at East Lake. 

"For personal reasons, Sepp is unable to play this week," he said. 

"He intends to compete at the Tour Championship, but requests privacy at this time as he attends to a family matter at home."

Straka, who is 10th in the OWGR, has won twice on the PGA Tour this season and is fifth in the FedEx Cup standings.

The Austrian is also sixth in the European Ryder Cup standings and, at this point, looks as though he has already done enough to earn a spot in the team. 

European Ryder Cup skipper Luke Donald looks set to retain the nucleus of the side that defeated Team USA by five points in Rome two years ago. 

Straka went 1–2–0 at Marco Simone. He was defeated by Justin Thomas in the Sunday singles. 

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