World No. 3 Lee Westwood has had a huge change of heart in taking up PGA Tour membership for 2012.

The move will see Westwood join many of the leading European players including Padraig Harrington, Ian Poulter, Justin Rose and also Rory McIlroy dividing his time between playing on both sides of ‘The Pond’.

Lee Westwood has a change of heart and will now join the PGA Tour in 2012.

It will aso see Westwood contest the Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass, which he did not contest this year due to scheduling complications, and take part in the PGA Tour Playoffs for the FedEx Cup for the first time in September.

“I missed The Players Championship last year when watching it on television and it was always a scheduling issue for me,” said Westwood in a statement issued by SM.

“Though the rules changed making it exempt from PGA Tour restrictions, I had already set my schedule for later in the year in Asia and I didn’t want to break any of those commitments.

“It’s a great event and one I’ve always enjoyed playing.  It just felt right in Ryder Cup year to commit to a full programme 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 will tee-up in the WGC – Accenture Match-Play Championship Arizona in February.

The Worksop golfer is obliged to play a minimum of 15 events in the United States and the statement indicated Westwood’s involvement will not affect his European Tour commitments.

PGA Tour Executive Vice President and Chief of Operations Andy Pazder said: “We are delighted to welcome back Lee as a member of the PGA TOUR.

“He’s obviously proven himself to be one of the very best and most consistent players in the world, and the fans of the PGA Tour will enjoy having more opportunities to watch him compete.”