( CNN ) -- Ryder Cup hero Graeme McDowell has revealed he will join the U.S. PGA Tour next year , but Europe teammate Lee Westwood insists he will not be switching allegiance . U.S. Open champion McDowell , who beat Hunter Mahan in the deciding singles match at Celtic Manor on Monday , told reporters that he plans to try to qualify for the lucrative FedEx Cup playoffs . `` I wo n't be playing as many events in America as , say , Luke Donald and Justin Rose , but I am taking up my card , '' the Northern Irishman said on Wednesday . `` I had one in 2006 but got injured early in that season , and now I want to give it a real try . '' But world No . 2 Westwood , who can topple Tiger Woods from the top of the rankings if he finishes first or second at the Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland this week , has decided to stay on the European Tour -- which he won last year . If he succeeds , he will be the first European golfer to reach No . 1 since compatriot Nick Faldo in 1994 . `` The FedEx Cup sits right in the middle of the kids ' summer holidays , and I like going on holiday with them , '' said the Englishman , who has twice finished second in major events this year . `` I do n't want to be dictated to by having to go to America to play FedEx Cup when it does n't really mean that much to me . It does n't mean enough to me , anyway . `` I think they [ the PGA Tour ] would like me to go and be a member there , but as of Monday evening I became an individual again and I do what 's right for Lee Westwood now . '' The 37-year-old could end Woods ' five-year reign even if he took the next fortnight off , but has decided to defend his Portugal Masters title next week as well . `` That 's not me . That 's not the way I want to do it . I want to get to world number one by playing the way I have for the last two years and proving I 'm the best , '' he said . Woods , who has struggled following his return to action after his well-publicized marital problems , will not play again until November , when he plays tournaments in China and Australia . Westwood is paired with Ryder Cup teammate Rory McIlroy for Thursday 's opening round at Gleneagles , and the 21-year-old Northern Irishman revealed that he will be cutting back his schedule next year . McIlroy played on both circuits this year after finishing second overall in Europe in 2009 , making his breakthrough triumph on the PGA Tour at Quail Hollow in May . `` I will only be playing 25 tournaments in all next year as against 29 on both tours this year , '' he said .
U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell plans to take up PGA Tour card in 2011 . McDowell 's Ryder Cup teammate Lee Westwood will stay on European Tour . World No . 2 Westwood can topple top-ranked Tiger Woods this weekend . Another Ryder Cup winner , Rory McIlroy , plans to reduce his playing schedule next year .