Thursday 1 October 2015 13:13, UK
Former Ryder Cup player Edoardo Molinari will have to return to the European Tour qualifying school for the first time since 2008 after calling an early end to his season.
Molinari, who partnered his brother Francesco to World Cup victory for Italy in 2009 and in Europe's win at Celtic Manor a year later, was due to play in this week's Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
However, the 34-year-old wrote on Twitter on Thursday: "Unfortunately I had to pull out from @DunhillLinks and the remaining events for personal reasons. My next tournament will now be Q-School."
Molinari, who made three visits to the qualifying school before winning three tournaments to top the Challenge Tour rankings in 2009, is 154th on the Race to Dubai, with only the top 110 retaining their cards at the end of the season.
The world No 279 is without a top-10 finish during 2015 and has missed the cut in 10 of his 22 starts this season, most recently at last week's European Open.
There are just three more regular season event after this week for ahead of the Final Series; the British Masters, supported by Sky Sports, the Portugal Masters and the Hong Kong Open.
Made In Denmark joint runner-up Daniel Gaunt, Joburg Open runner-up Kevin Phelan and four-time European Tour winner Matteo Manassero are among those currently lying outside of the top 110 in the standings.
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