Dubai World Championship: Dad-to-be Justin Rose pulls out

Rose's last tour title was the BMW Championship in Illinois in September

England's Justin Rose has pulled out of this week's Dubai World Championship to await the birth of his second child.

The world number 16 will be in Orlando, Florida with wife Kate. They already have a son, Leo.

Rose missed the cut at the Hong Kong Open last week by one stroke, as Rory McIlroy went on to take the title.

Rose tweeted: "Flying home to Orlando for an amazing off season. Our 2nd baby is on it's way very soon. Sorry I couldn't play in Dubai."

The 31-year-old is currently lying in 48th place in the European Race to Dubai money list, having earned 571,283 euros (approximately £490,000 / $765,000) in his 13 tournaments.

His last tournament win came on the PGA Tour in the United States, taking victory at the BMW Championship at the Cog Hill Country Club in Illinois in September, which was part of the FedEx Cup play-offs.

Only the top 60 on the European money list qualify for Dubai, but now only 58 are playing because, in addition to Rose, Sweden's Fredrik Jacobson is not in the field.

The main focus of the week in Dubai is the battle between the world's top two players, Luke Donald and Rory McIlroy, for the European number one crown.

On-form McIlroy, on a high from winning in Hong Kong, has to triumph again on Sunday, but even then Donald would still top the money lists on both sides of the Atlantic in the same season - a feat never before achieved - if he finishes ninth or better.