MacIntyre weighing early end to season amid Middle East travel concerns

Scotland's Robert MacIntyre has suggested his competitive year may already be over, citing continued uncertainty around the situation in the Middle East ahead of the DP World Tour's season-closing events in Abu Dhabi and Dubai this November.

The 30-year-old closed out the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews in a tie for sixth on Sunday, a year after claiming the title there. He has opted out of this week's Spanish Open and has no current plans to tee it up in India or South Korea either. A final call on Abu Dhabi and Dubai will wait until closer to the entry deadline, which he admits he isn't even sure of yet, as he monitors how the regional conflict unfolds.

He's not alone in his hesitation — Ryder Cup teammate Matt Fitzpatrick has voiced similar reservations about travelling there. By contrast, world number two Rory McIlroy has already committed to playing both tournaments.

MacIntyre indicated he might still tee up in the Bahamas in December, though that will hinge on how his off-season preparations for 2027 progress. He described the coming months as a quieter stretch focused on fitness, home projects, and potentially installing a golf simulator at his house.

Building a bond with the Old Course

Whatever he decides about the rest of this season, MacIntyre is already looking ahead to next summer, when St Andrews' Old Course will host the 155th Open Championship. The world number 19's strong showing this week points to a growing appreciation for a course that has never been his favourite but, he says, is starting to win him over — helped, in part, by recent changes including new bunkers and tee positions. MacIntyre, who has holidayed in the town with his family, said he's increasingly figuring out how to play certain holes more aggressively off the tee as his experience there builds.