U.S. Open winner McIlroy to move back to America to avoid spotlight

Champion golfer to take up membership on PGA Tour for 2012

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Rory McIlroy

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Golf’s hottest ticket Rory McIlroy is moving back across the Atlantic and taking up his membership of the US PGA tour again.

A week after a Twitter war with American commentator Jay Townsend, McIlroy has confirmed that he will play the majority of his golf in the States next year.

The 22-year-old from Ulster, playing in the Bridgestone Invitational this week, is fed up at the very public scrutiny of his private life in Europe.

McIlroy has been upset by recent interest in the break-up of his relationship with long term girlfriend Holly Sweeney and his new love, Denmark’s tennis world number one Caroline Wozniacki.

“I spoke to a couple of the guys from the PGA Tour today about it,” said McIlroy. “I am leaning towards taking my card up again, definitely.

“I feel as if I play my best golf over here. I am very comfortable in this country and I am going to look at a few houses in Florida after next week’s PGA.

“I’m definitely looking at coming back and playing a full schedule here. I’ve thought about it and feel my game really suits playing courses over here.

“I love Quail Hollow, Memorial, Akron. You play Match Play, Honda, Doral, Masters - you have your favorite events and most of my favorite events seem to be on this side of the pond.

“I’d like to give it a go again and last more than one year and see how it goes.”

Just two months after his win at Congressional, McIlroy accepts that he is now public property but feels the scrutiny will be less intense if he returns to the US Tour.

He added: “The person I am holding hands with, we are both in a position where there’s a high level of scrutiny.

“It’s just something you have to deal with. It’s not something that is ever going to go away, or I hope it doesn’t go away because it would mean I wasn’t playing good golf.

“It’s part of my career now.”
 

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