VIRGINIA WATER, England — Sepp Straka withdrew from two playoff games on a trip to Dubai so he could be home when his 2-month-old son was discharged from the hospital for the first time since the birth.
Straka, who was born and raised in Austria and moved to Georgia as a teenager, earned an exemption as a Ryder Cup player into next week’s HSBC Championship in Abu Dhabi.
Straka is the only European not to play in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth that precedes 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 in Bethpage Black.
“Paige and I are excited to share that we are preparing for our son Thomas to return home in the coming weeks after spending the first two months of his life in the intensive care unit,” Straka said in a statement. “We are extremely grateful to the dedicated medical team who cared for him and helped him grow stronger after his early arrival in August.”
He said he would withdraw from Abu Dhabi and next week’s DP World Tour Championship in Dubai to be with his family.
“I need to support Paige at Alabama and make sure we give Thomas the best start as he transitions from the NICU to home,” he said.
He will be unable to compete in at least four events on the European Tour. Tour CEO Guy Kinnings has modified his request from four events to two so that Straka can remain eligible in 2026 due to the situation of Straka’s son.
Straka has won twice on the PGA Tour this year, including a signature event at the Philadelphia Cricket Club, and is ranked 15th in the world.
