Rory McIlroy eschews US Tour and sets sights on Europe

NORTHERN Irish golfer Rory McIlroy will not join the US PGA Tour for 2011, saying he enjoys his time in Europe too much.

The 21-year-old said he no longer wanted to play the mandatory number of tournaments required in the States and joins world No 1 Lee Westwood in rejecting the card in favour of staying in Europe.

"Sometimes you feel as though you have to be in America just to play the mandatory 15 and, at the start of this year, that was something I really wanted to do," he said. "I did that, but I also realised it wasn't for me, but then it doesn't mean to say that I don't want to play full time in the States again."

McIlroy had been considering the decision since September, when he was watching TV coverage from the States of the Omega European Masters in Switzerland, an event he almost won in 2008. "I found myself in America… especially in the FedEx Cup play-off series, just not wanting to be there," said McIlroy. "I switched on the Golf Channel and began watching the Omega European Masters in Switzerland and thinking to myself: 'I would rather be there instead.'"