Report: McIlroy has decided to join the PGA Tour

The Daily Mail is reporting that Northern Ireland prodigy Rory McIlroy, 20, has decided to join the PGA Tour in 2010, though he won't officially announce his intention to do so until Nov. 18, the eve of the Dubai World Championship and two weeks before the deadline to submit his entry to the PGA Tour.

"Following a series of talks with his manager Chubby Chandler, McIlroy has worked out he only needs to add four more events to those he played in America this year to qualify for the Fedex Cup," the Daily Mail's Graham Otway wrote. "And he believes cutting down his European schedule will not affect his chances of making his much anticipated Ryder Cup debut for Colin Montgomerie's team next September."

McIlroy ranks first on the European Tour money list.

The news is good for the PGA Tour, but probably won't be well received on the European Tour, which is debating whether to require its members to play more of its own events in mainland Europe.

-- John Strege