Marcel Siem Withdraws From DP World Tour Q School With Back Injury

German veteran Marcel Siem has withdrawn from the Final Stage of DP World Tour Qualifying School, citing a persistent back injury he says has bothered him since the 2025 Irish Open.

Why is Siem skipping Q School?

The 46-year-old, a six-time DP World Tour winner, finished 137th in this year's Race to Dubai rankings, a result that sent him to the six-round Final Stage at Infinitum in Spain to try to retain his tour card. He withdrew shortly before the event began. "It's one of the toughest decisions I've faced in a long time," Siem said, adding that he had not played a single event completely pain-free since the injury began.

Siem said he had never given the back injury enough time to heal because he kept playing in an effort to hold onto his tour status. He said he has had extensive conversations with his medical team, who have given him confidence that, with the right treatment and enough time away from competition, he can return to his best form.

What does this mean for Siem's career?

Siem has made 594 DP World Tour starts since his 1998 debut, winning six times, most recently at the 2024 Italian Open. He saved his card last season by finishing 95th in the Race to Dubai, but managed just 12 cuts from 26 starts this year as the back problem worsened. He said he now plans to rest and undergo treatment and rehabilitation before returning to competition, describing the comeback process as familiar territory after two decades on tour.