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McIlroy quits PGA Tour in favour of playing in Europe

Rory McIlroy will reduce his schedule in 2011 © Getty Images

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Rory McIlroy has turned his back on American golf in favour of returning to the European Tour.

European golf is in the ascendancy, after Lee Westwood's rise to become the first European world No. 1 since 1994 swiftly followed the triumph of Colin Montgomerie's team at the Ryder Cup.

Westwood confirmed he would continue playing on the European Tour last month, and with world No. 3 Martin Kaymer set to decline membership, McIlroy's decision to return to Europe after only a year in the US will come as a blow for PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem.

"I found myself in America last year, especially during the FedEx Cup play-off series, just not wanting to be there," McIlroy said. "I switched on the Golf Channel and watched the European Masters in Switzerland and thought to myself, 'I would rather be there'.

"The two best players in the world at the moment are not going to join the US Tour next year. It's a great time for European golf."

Despite a winner's cheque of over $10 million, McIlroy admits the FedEx Cup play-off series is not enough to tempt him to stay on the other side of the Atlantic.

"The FedEx Cup is only about money and you shouldn't just be going over to play thinking about how much you can make," said the world No. 9. "I needed a break after the USPGA but had only one week. There is no flexibility in your schedule as the FedEx forces you to appear at those events. I didn't like that.

"If you're not playing well in the States it can be a lonely place," said McIlroy, who intends to cut down his schedule to spend more time at home in Northern Ireland with his girlfriend Holly. "But if you're not playing well on the European Tour you still have plenty of mates to hang out with. Holly also has another two years at university and we have two dogs, a nice house and I love my life back in Ireland. I don't ever want to give that up."

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