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The European Tour has lost another of it's star attractions for the
majority of next season, with the news that Ryder Cup hero Nicolas
Colsaerts has confirmed he will join the PGA Tour next year.
Although
he will retain his European Tour card, the Belgian will switch focus to
the States for the more lucrative tournaments on offer. A reason that
Colsaerts, however contests, saying the courses are the real reason as
oppose to financial incentives.
"The thing that attracts me the
most is the courses," said Colsaerts. "I think they probably fit my game
a little better week in, week out than the ones we play in Europe. So
many of the best players in the world play in America and financially,
of course, it is a bigger tour.
"But my heart will stay in
Europe. The atmospheres are very different and I will miss a lot of the
tournaments in Europe, playing with all the guys that I have built up a
connection with over the years. Europe is an unbelievable tour on which
to get a golfing pedigree.
"I have played in Europe for 12 years
now and have been full-time at that for seven years. So I have played
out here for a long time. I feel like now is a good time for me to go
and try something new."
This season has been immensely
successfully for the 30-year-old. Along with his key role in Europe's
Miracle at Medinah performance in the Ryder Cup, Colsaerts have moved
from No72 at the start of year up to No34 and has earned over £1.3m in
prize money from European events alone this year.
"It means that I
have been going in the right direction," added Colsaerts of his
stateside move. "Playing on the PGA Tour is a big step in a golfer's
career. As soon as I heard I had the possibility of playing over there –
while still playing in Europe, of course, I will still play a few weeks
here – it was something I wanted to do.
"Playing in America is
always something I have quite enjoyed, especially over the last year and
a half. I'm am going to try and make the most of it now." |