Kimsey 'happy to trust tour' over safety in Abu Dhabi

Golfer Nathan Kimsey says that he is "happy to trust" the 2026 DP World Tour regarding player safety during next week's penultimate event of the season in Abu Dhabi.

In September, fellow Briton Matt Fitzpatrick had voiced concerns about travelling to the Middle East due to the ongoing conflict between Iran, the United States and Israel.

Fitzpatrick has not been listed, external in next week's entry list for the Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship, and it remains to be seen if he will play in Dubai the week after for the season finale.

The top 70 players in the Race to Dubai rankings become eligible to play in Abu Dhabi, but a number of those inside the cut line will not feature next week.

This has given the chance for 72nd placed Kimsey to make the field, having the opportunity to also make the season finale the following week if he plays well.

"I feel fine about it from what we've heard and speaking to the tour over the last couple of months," Kimsey told BBC Sport.

"They've had contingencies in place and obviously been keeping us aware of the whole situation.

"I know quite a few people who live over there and work over there, and everything we're hearing back is that it's safe and it's all good to go.

"From my position I'm happy putting my trust in the tour and all the relevant organisations that they're not going to send us out here out there if it's not safe.

"If anything changes, then I'm sure they'll let us know as soon as possible, but from what I've heard, it's all got the go-ahead, and we're all good to go, and I'm looking forward to getting out there."

Lincolnshire-born Kimsey represents Stoneham Golf Club in Southampton on tour and made 19 cuts this year out of his 28 tournaments played in.

This has been his second-best year on tour so far, earning £448,000 (€538,000) in prize money with five top-10 finishes.

The 33-year-old also played in his first-ever US Open at Shinnecock Hills, which was eventually won by American Wyndham Clark.

Kimsey is hoping that a good week could see him make the top 50 of the DP World Tour rankings, which would also give him a place at the DP World Tour Championship.

"If I was able to have a good week in Abu Dhabi that gets me into the top 50, then it would be fantastic," Kimsey added.

"It would be a good reward for my season, and I look back on it all really well this year.

"I've played a lot of good golf this year and had a few events where I've been in contention; just being able to go out there and secure my playing rights and my card for next year makes it a really positive one.

"The experience of going over to the states and playing in the US Open was awesome too; it just gives me that motivation and fire to get back there again."