Tommy Fleetwood's family remains stranded in Dubai whilst he prepares for this week's The Players Championship in the United States. Fleetwood is due to tee off at TPC Sawgrass on Thursday in pursuit of victory at the PGA Tour's flagship event and a potential £3.3million prize.

However, world No.3 Fleetwood will encounter fierce competition from the likes of Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy, who are among the favourites. Yet whilst Fleetwood competes in the tournament, his family will be forced to watch from a distance as they remain unable to depart the United Arab Emirates amid the ongoing US-Iran conflict.

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Speaking at his pre-tournament press conference at The Players Championship, Fleetwood offered an update on his family. "They're still in Dubai at the moment," the 35-year-old said.

"Yeah, it's been a strange time. I can honestly say that my family have been very, very safe. I think the UAE, the country, have done an unbelievable job at making everybody feel very safe and very secure and handling that."

Although the airspace above Dubai has reopened somewhat, Fleetwood remains unsure when his family can join him Stateside as he prepares for a series of PGA Tour events. "They're supposed to travel soon, so I think they're looking at travelling whenever they can, but the main thing has been that they are safe," Fleetwood said.

"I honestly can't speak highly enough about how well the country has handled things for the people who are over there. [It's] just I haven't experienced it, I've been over here."

Fleetwood, who is 22/1 to win The Players Championship, tied for fourth and seventh in his first two PGA Tour starts this season. However, last week, Fleetwood struggled and finished 49th, hitting two 76s across four days and coming in at six over par at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

When asked if concerns for his family impacted his performance there, Fleetwood replied: "I don't really like to make excuses. I definitely won't be one to say whether it has a role in how I play or not.

"I think Bay Hill's hard enough. I think you just do the best with whatever cards you're dealt with and try and just, when I'm working or playing or practising, just throw myself into that.

"No doubt I would love my family and everybody that's involved at the moment or in and around the area to be in a sort of more comfortable situation, but like I say, they have handled it unbelievably well. All I can say is that my family have felt very, very safe."