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Bryson DeChambeau has revealed that he is considering skipping next week’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship as tensions between the US and Iran continue to escalate.

The five-time PGA Tour winner is rumoured to be getting paid a £1.1million appearance fee to play in the UAE next week at the start of the European Tour’s ‘Gulf Swing’.

However, he says he is prepared to forfeit that amid the deepening crisis in the Middle East.

Overnight,Iran carried out a ballistic missile attack on American air force bases in Iraq in retaliation for the USA assassinating General Qasem Soleimani.

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The country has also threatened to “unleash Hezbollah” across the Gulf, specifically mentioning the UAE in its threat.

The European Tour has said it expects next week’s tournaments in Abu Dhabi – and subsequent tournaments in Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Oman – to go ahead as scheduled but added that it is monitoring events in the region closely.

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Answering users questions on the Twitch streaming platform, DeChambeau hinted that he might withdraw from the Abu Dhabi field, saying “no American is safe”. He added that is “really not sure” if he’ll play next week. 

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The world No.15 won the Dubai Desert Classic last year.

DeChambeau is one of six Americans currently named on the entry list for Abu Dhabi. World No.1 Brooks Koepka is expected to be there, along with Patrick Cantlay, David Lipsky, Krt Kitayama and Sean Crocker.


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Michael McEwan is the Deputy Editor of bunkered and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Deputy Editor

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