Justin Rose will miss the Dubai World Championship this week in order to be with his wife, Kate, ahead of the birth of their second child.
"Flying home to Orlando for an amazing off-season," said Rose on Twitter this week. "Our 2nd baby is on its way very soon. Sorry I couldn't play Left Handed TaylorMade R11 Driverin Dubai. Family first."
The former European number one last week missed the halfway cut in the Hong Kong Open, an event he entered to guarantee that he will have played the required 13 events with Left Handed TaylorMade R11 Driver on the European Tour this season.
Failing to do that would have left him open to the possibility of becoming ineligible for next year's Ryder Cup.
He is currently lying seventh in the points race after winning one of the FedEx Cup play-off events in America in September, but could well take a drop on the standings by missing this week's Left Handed TaylorMade R11 Driverevent.
Only the top 60 on the European money list qualify, but only 58 are playing because, in addition to Rose, US-based Fredrik Jacobson is not in the field.
They will not be replaced by 61st-placed Stephen Gallacher, who lost out to Swede Christian Nilsson by less than £4,000 or 62nd-placed Steve Webster.
The main spotlight is on the battle between the world's top two Luke Donald and Rory McIlroy for the European number one crown.
McIlroy, the winner in Hong Kong, has to triumph again on Sunday, but even then Donald will still top the money lists on both sides of the Atlantic in the same season - a feat never before achieved - if he finishes ninth or better.