When the DP World Tour heads to Dom Pedro Victoria Golf Course this week for the 2022 Portugal Masters, it’ll do so without defending champion Thomas Pieters.
The 30-year-old Belgian earned his sixth DP World Tour victory at last year’s event but will not defend his title this week as he and his significant other Stefanie van Steen are expecting their second child.
“Due to the imminent arrival of Baby Pieters I won’t be able to defend my Portugal Masters title this week,” Pieters wrote in a Twitter post. “Time for some more doo-doo in my life … ”
Currently ranked No. 35 in the world, Pieters has been on a good run of form the last two months, finishing T-8 at the Czech Masters and T-3 at the Cazoo Open de France.
Due to the imminent arrival of Baby Pieters I won’t be able to defend my Portugal Masters title this week. Time for some more doo-doo in my life… pic.twitter.com/4GwKXsBCmf
— Thomas Pieters (@Thomas_Pieters) October 24, 2022