England's former US Open champion Matthew Fitzpatrick has called for the DP World Tour’s season-ending playoff events to be moved, describing it is a "no-brainer".
They say that sport and politics should never mix. Sadly, as we all know, this is not the case.
I well remember the 1980 Olympic Games, when a host of nations led by the United States boycotted the Moscow event in protest at the Russian invasion of Afghanistan. South Africa was a pariah for years as a result of apartheid. Four years later, the Russians opted to boycott the 1984 Games in Los Angeles, essentially as a retaliatory measure.
And you surely don’t need me to explain why away fans are now banned from away matches when Rangers take on Celtic.
There was the aftermath of the England-Argentina World Cup semi-final in 2026, when the Argentina team celebrated their victory with a banner laying claim to the Falkland Islands.
Golf has been relatively immune but there is now a very real chance that could be about to change.
Of course it did become intrinsically linked with politics when LIV Golf - funded by a Saudi Arabia - was launched.
But this is different. Events in the Middle East now have some of Europe’s best golfers questioning the wisdom of staging the DP World Tour’s playoff tournaments in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
Fitzpatrick won the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai 12 months ago but has said that he is not "100% comfortable" at the prospect of travelling to Dubai this November and he is not alone.
(Image Credit: Kevin Diss Photography)
Chief executive Guy Kinnings and other DP World Tour officials are currently assessing safety issues for their final two play-off events in Abu Dhabi and then Dubai.
Both tournaments are backed by key sponsors of the European-based tour and provide a lucrative end to the season for the circuit's leading money winners.
"I think it's annoying, but at the same time, Guy Kinnings can't control what Iran are doing," Fitzpatrick added.
"It is frustrating because as someone who likes to plan and be prepared, it is difficult to kind of figure out what's going on. Obviously, things as they stand are a bit weird over there.
"I can't say I'm like 100% comfortable, but I guess you just have to see nearer the time and, you know, I still need to qualify as well."
He is concerned that the United Arab Emirates could be a target in the ongoing conflict between Iran, the United States and Israel. It is hardly surprising he feels this way - Iran has hit several strategic targets in the region.
"You've only got to look at the hotel that got hit earlier this year," said Fitzpatrick. "I was having dinner the week I won in that hotel. That's obviously very scary when you think about how it was a few months away but how close you were to that particular spot and for something like that to happen. It's obviously quite scary."
Fitzpatrick says that he would like to see the event switched to a different host country, a decision he called a "no brainer, in my opinion" before adding: "But I'm not a sponsor, I'm not paying the bills and all that sort of stuff. I'm sure there's more to it than just the meets the eye."
Fitzpatrick's Ryder Cup team-mate Shane Lowry said the tour faces important choices over how to end the current season. He said: "They are huge decisions for everyone. I'm not going to sit here and comment on the whole thing because I think it's up to the powers above to sort that all out. I think if the tournaments are on, the players are going to go. And if they are not, they will find an alternative."
A spokesperson for the DP World Tour said: "We are in constant dialogue with our members and their management teams about the tournaments they play in, but ultimately players' individual schedule choices are a matter for them to decide.
"As far as our play-offs are concerned, it remains our intention to play as scheduled in the UAE but we continue to monitor the situation and take advice from our international travel advisors."
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