Back Problems: Marcel Siem Withdraws from the DP World Tour Q-School
Marcel Siem has decided not to compete in the Final Stage of the DP World Tour Qualifying School. His back is his top priority, so he will miss out on a full Tour card for 2027.
German professional Marcel Siem will not be participating in the Final Stage of the DP World Tour Qualifying School. The 46-year-old announced this in an Instagram post on November 4, two days before the start of the INFINITUM in Tarragona. Siem describes it as one of the hardest decisions he has had to make in a long time. The decision was prompted by ongoing back problems, which he says have persisted since the 2025 Irish Open. He currently ranks 137th in the Race to Dubai, the DP World Tour’s year-end standings. Since only the playoff events remain, his position is not expected to drop any further.
Follow the 2026 DP World Tour Abu Dhabi Championship here.
Persistent Pain as the Underlying Cause
Siem writes that he has been struggling with back problems since the 2025 Irish Open. Some weeks have been better than others, but he hasn’t played a single tournament completely pain-free since then. Looking back, he says he never gave his body the time it needed to recover. Taking a break had long been out of the question for him because he was fighting to keep his Tour card. After more than 20 years as a pro, he says it’s all the more difficult to play at the highest level while dealing with constant pain.
After numerous discussions with his medical team, Siem has decided to skip Qualifying School. His priority now is to give his back the rest, treatment, and time it needs, followed by careful rehabilitation and a recovery phase. The medical assessment has given him a lot of confidence: with the right approach and enough time, he can overcome the pain and return to his best form. That’s exactly what he wants to do.
A Difficult 2026 DP World Tour Season
The season was disappointing for Siem. Out of 26 tournaments he entered, he withdrew after the first round in two of them, including the Genesis Championship in South Korea. Out of his 24 starts, he missed the cut 12 times. His best finish was T13 at the Dubai Invitational in January, followed by T14 at the FedEx Open de France in September. He did not achieve a single top-10 finish in 2026. His total prize money amounted to approximately €206,865. At the Genesis Championship, he ultimately lost his chance at a full DP World Tour card.
Ranked 137th in the Race to Dubai, Siem will be assigned Category 20 on the DP World Tour and Category 7 on the HotelPlanner Tour for the 2027 season. This means he will earn a few starts on the DP World Tour but will lose his full tour card. Qualifying School would have offered him the chance to improve his status. He is now passing on this opportunity for health reasons.
Thanks to Partners and Outlook
Siem thanked his sponsors, partners, and the DP World Tour for their trust and support during difficult times. He wrote that his career has taught him to get back up time and again and never give up. He said he is ready to do so once more and looks forward to being back on the course soon. His parting words in the original language are “See you soon.”
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Release date
04 Nov 2026
photos
Marcel Siem has had to withdraw from the DP World Tour Qualifying School due to an injury. (Photo: Imago / kolbert-press)
