Golf-Briton McIlroy to take up U.S. PGA Tour card

HONG KONG, Nov 11 (Reuters) - Briton Rory McIlroy, tipped as a future world number one by Tiger Woods, has decided to take up his U.S. PGA Tour card for next season.

The 20-year-old Northern Irishman made the announcement at the $2.5 million Hong Kong Open, where a good showing could move him up to top spot in the European Tour's money list. "My decision is not that much of a big deal because I'm only adding a couple of more events in America," the world number 17 told the Daily Express newspaper at Fanling.

"The European Tour will still be my home tour. I don't want anyone to get the wrong idea that I'm just going away to America because that is not what I'm planning.

"I just feel I will become a better golfer if I also play in America. I will be playing in world class fields with more world ranking points on offer and the only way for me to get better is to play alongside better players.

"And on paper at this moment, there are 16 better players than me in the world." McIlroy, who will have to commit to 15 tournaments, said earlier this year that he was in no hurry to take up membership of the U.S. PGA Tour for fear of burning out by playing too much.

He could earn a card automatically because of his winnings in events this season on the tour, including third place in the U.S. PGA Championship and fifth at the Accenture Matchplay World Golf Championship.

The Ulsterman got his first professional win at the Dubai Desert Classic in Febuary and goes into the Hong Kong Open on a high after finishing fourth in a strong field at the WGC-HSBC Champions last weekend. (Writing by Nick Mulvenney in Beijing; Editing by Peter Rutherford; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)