IRELAND’S RORY McILROY has decided to walk away from the USPGA Tour.

McIlroy says he found himself not wanting to be in America, especially during the FedEx Cup play-offs when the majors were over.

He told reporters yesterday:

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.

I did that, but I also realized 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.

The world number nine headed home to Holywood for a week’s break rather than contest the Singapore Open starting on Thursday.

McIlroy’s manager, Andrew Chandler, sought a meeting with U.S. PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem last Sunday night straight after the HSBC Champions prize-giving ceremony.

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.

The decision is a major blow to the American tour chiefs, according to the Irish Independent’s Karl McGinty. While the Daily Telegraph agrees that the development is a further blow to the prestige of American golf.

England’s Lee Westwood, the new world No1, has not been a PGA Tour member for several years while the PGA champion Martin Kaymer of Germany, who is No3 in the world, has also indicated he will not join the US tour next year.

McIlroy is No9 in the world and, having regained the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor earlier this year, says that this is a great time for European golf.