Struggling World No. 2 Rory McIlroy has added next week’s Valero Texas Open and in what many observers believes is a very smart move the week before the Masters.

McIlroy, currently competing at the Shell Houston Open, notified tournament officials through his management company shortly after posting a second round 70 to make the halfway cut at one-under par that he would be headed to San Antonio.

It is also undertstood McIlory’s Horizon Sports Management has been in discussion with Valero Texas Open officials for some weeks, and given also fellow management stablemate, Shane Lowry is to compete in the $6.2m event.

Players had until 5pm time Florida to commit to the event and McIlroy’s name has now been added to the tournament to be defended by former Open Champion, Ben Curtis.

“We’ve been quietly working with Rory and his manager for the last several weeks,” Larson Segerdahl, Tournament Director for the Texas Open, said today.

“Rory wanted to get in a few more rounds before Augusta and made the decision on the golf course today, after a back-and-forth discussion with his manager.

“It’s a big win for all of us.”

However McIlroy’s preparations for the event will be hampered as he will be in earthquake ravaged Haiti on Monday and Tuesday in his role as a UNICEF ambassador.

Joining McIlroy in Haiti will be his managers, Conor Ridge and Sean O’Flaherty while Getty Images renowed photographer, Dave Cannon will travel with the party.

McIlroy now joins World No. 9 ranked Matt Kuchar along with fellow Irish Darren Clarke, Padraig Harrington and Shane Lowry plus England’s Ian Poulter and 2011 Masters winner Charl Schwartzel teeing up on the AT & T Oaks Course at TPC San Antonio.