Robert MacIntyre weighs early end to season over Middle East concerns

Robert MacIntyre has said his season may already be over as he considers whether to travel to the Middle East for the DP World Tour's final events. According to BBC Sport Scotland, the Scot will assess developments in the region before deciding whether to compete in Abu Dhabi and Dubai in November.

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The 30-year-old finished tied for sixth at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews on Sunday, returning to the tournament he won a year earlier. Speaking to BBC Scotland after his final round, he described the campaign positively while acknowledging the challenge of balancing his golf with life away from competition.

MacIntyre will miss this week's Spanish Open and currently has no plans to enter events in India or South Korea. That leaves his participation in the November tournaments unresolved. He said he did not know the entry cut-off and would continue monitoring the situation before making a decision, rather than committing immediately to a return.

He is not the only Ryder Cup player weighing up the trip. BBC Sport reported that Matt Fitzpatrick has also voiced doubts about travelling to the region. Rory McIlroy, ranked second in the world, has taken a different position and confirmed that he intends to play in both of the season-ending events.

A December appearance in the Bahamas remains another possibility for MacIntyre, although he said that would depend on how work towards next season progresses. His plans for a potentially quieter period include spending time in the gym, working on his house and, he hopes, installing a golf simulator at home.

MacIntyre also discussed his changing relationship with the Old Course, which will host the 155th Open Championship next summer. The world number 19 said his longstanding affection for St Andrews as a town had not initially extended to its famous course. Repeated visits and better results have helped him appreciate it more, and he said he is beginning to identify where he can be more aggressive from the tee.