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Lee Westwood has announced that he will be returning to the PGA Tour next year
The Englishman will split his playing time between Europe and America in 2012
Westwood will now compete in both the Players Championship and PGA Tour playoffs
Former world number one Lee Westwood has confirmed that he will be rejoining the PGA Tour for the 2012 season.
The 38-year-old Englishman issued a statement on the official PGA Tour website to reveal that he will divide his time between Europe and America next year.
Westwood said: “I missed the Players Championship last year when watching it on television. It was always a scheduling issue for me.
“Though the rules changed making it exempt from PGA Tour restrictions, I had already set my schedule for later in the year in Asia. I didn’t want to break any of those commitments.”
He added: “It is a great event and one I’ve always enjoyed playing. It just felt right in Ryder Cup year to commit to a full program in the United States. The FedEx Cup looked pretty good on TV this year – I thought it would be great to give it a go, having never taken part.”
Westwood, who is ranked third in the world behind fellow-Britons Luke Donald and Rory McIlroy, will start his American season by playing in February’s Accenture World Match Play in Arizona, the first of four World Golf Championship events next year.
He is obliged to play a minimum of 15 events in the United States, although his involvement will not affect his European Tour commitments.
PGA Tour chief of operations Andy Pazder said: “We are delighted to welcome back Lee as a member of the PGA Tour.
“He has obviously proven himself to be one of the very best and most consistent players in the world, and fans of the PGA Tour will enjoy having more opportunities to watch him compete.”
