So now we know. After weeks of claim and counter-claim - mainly from within his own camp - Rory McIlroy has decided to take up membership of the PGA Tour in the United States.

This does not mean that the hottest young player in the world of golf is turning his back on the European Tour, just that from next season he is going to be contracted to play on both sides of the Atlantic, following the likes of Ian Poulter, Justin Rose, Padraig Harrington and Sergio Garcia.

Inevitably it will mean cutting back on his commitments to his home tour (minimum requirement: 12 events) and increasing the number of events he must play in America (minimum: 15). And whichever way you spin it, that is not good news for a European Tour desperate to get more of its top players to compete in mainland Europe.

So, what's in it for Rory? Here's what ...

Money

When it comes to prize funds, the European Tour simply cannot compete with the huge sums on offer in the States. In recent years sponsors have fallen over themselves to be associated with a sport that can boast Tiger Woods as its leading player, although this is no longer guaranteed in these financially straitened times. That said, win a minor tournament in the US and a player will walk away with a minimum first prize of $540,000. Many others pay well in excess of $1 million to the winners. By comparison, the Madeira Island Open has a first prize of around £100,000.

The big daddy of them all is the FedEx Cup Series, the end of season bunfight that offers a $10 million bonus to the player who finishes No 1 on tour. And while Woods is generally expected to walk away with that heap of treasure, there is plenty more cash to be distributed among the also-rans. Finish second and a player will pick up $3 million; tenth and he will get $500,000.

The European Tour can also point to its Race to Dubai and the large sums on offer there, but with so few tournaments demanded of its players - after all, the four majors and three WGC events count towards the total, and six of those are played in the US - it should be easy to play enough events to qualify for Europe's grand finale.

This year, McIlroy played 11 times on the PGA Tour and should have no difficulty adding another four to his schedule, particularly if he qualifies for the FedEx play-offs, the final four events of the season.

If he lives up to his potential, then there is every chance that the money he earns on the course will pale into insignificance with what he can command off it. Success in America will raise his profile even more and increase his endorsements and potential earnings.

Refreshingly, this will not all be about money. A born winner, McIlroy wants the titles more than anything. Win big and the money, he knows, will look after itself. As with Woods, he wants to make history on the course and a few major championships along the way would not go amiss.

World ranking points