Austrian golfer Sepp Straka withdraws from BMW Championship due to family matter.

Sepp Straka has withdrawn from the BMW Championship due to a private family matter. He intends to compete at the TOUR Championship but requests privacy at this time. Straka has two wins this season and is fifth in the playoff standings and sixth in the European Ryder Cup standings. He will not be replaced in the field as PGA Tour playoff rules stipulate only qualified golfers will participate.

Sepp Straka, the world-renowned Austrian golfer, has withdrawn from the 2025 BMW Championship due to a private family matter. Straka, currently ranked No. 10 globally, was set to compete in the second leg of the FedEx Cup Playoffs at No. 5 in the season-long standings. Despite his withdrawal, he is assured a spot in the Tour Championship, which will feature the top 30 golfers competing in the postseason finale.

Straka's manager, Butler Melnyk, confirmed the withdrawal in a statement, noting that Straka intends to compete at the Tour Championship but requests privacy at this time while he attends to a family matter at home. The Austrian golfer has had a strong 2025 campaign, securing two wins and multiple top-10 finishes in several major PGA Tour events.

Straka's withdrawal means the field for the BMW Championship at Caves Valley will now consist of 49 players, as PGA Tour playoff rules stipulate that only qualified golfers will participate. His absence will not be filled by an alternate, as the tournament does not allow for replacements.

Straka's withdrawal comes after a successful 2025 season, which includes victories at The American Express in January and the Truist Championship in May. He has also secured top-10 finishes in several other significant events, including the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, the Arnold Palmer Invitational, the Memorial Tournament, and the Scottish Open. His career-best finish in the FedEx Cup is a T7 in 2022, a record he aims to improve upon at the upcoming Tour Championship.

Straka's absence from the BMW Championship does not significantly impact his chances of qualifying for the Tour Championship. His current FedEx Cup ranking ensures his participation in the final event of the playoffs. Additionally, Straka is currently sixth in the European Ryder Cup standings, which will automatically qualify him for the upcoming matches at Bethpage State Park.

References:
[1] https://www.cbssports.com/golf/news/sepp-straka-withdraws-bmw-championship-fedex-cup-standings-playoffs/
[2] https://www.reuters.com/sports/golf/sepp-straka-withdraws-bmw-championship-2025-08-11/
[3] https://www.pgatour.com/article/news/latest/2025/08/11/sepp-straka-withdraws-family-matter-bmw-championship-fedexcup-playoffs-top-50-caves-valley-golf-club