Graeme McDowell has withdrawn from next week's BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth because he wants to spend time with his wife Kristen who is expecting their first child.
The 2010 US Open champion will miss the European Tour’s flagship event for the first time in 12 years.
“I very much appreciated Graeme taking the time to phone me personally to tell me he wouldn’t be at Wentworth,” European Tour chief executive George O’Grady said today.
“But the fact that he wants to spend time with Kristen, who will not be able to travel for the next three months, is entirely understandable.”
Wentworth has never been a happy hunting ground for the Florida-based McDowell who has missed the cut at the PGA Championship for the last three years and has never finished higher than 13th.
The Portrush man is the only member of the triumphant Ryder Cup team who will be absent next week.
The other 11 players all feature, as will 2012 captain Jose Maria Olazabal, defending champion Matteo Manassero of Italy, four-times major winner Ernie Els and 2011 US Masters champion Charl Schwartzel.
