Bjorn and Levet join US tour

Ryder Cup Dane Thomas Bjorn and Open runner-up Thomas Levet have both become members of the US Tour.

Their decision entitles them to unlimited sponsors’ invitations for the rest of the season.

On the eve of the United States PGA championship in Minnesota Bjorn had said: “I feel that to become as good as I want to be then I’ll probably have to play more golf in America than I do.

“I’ll never give up my European membership, though. I feel that’s my home, that’s where my family is happy, where we feel good.

“It’s difficult to play two tours because at times you’ll be contending for money lists on either tour and then you’ll find yourself in a situation where it’s hard to focus on both.”

Bjorn has not won a tournament since getting the better of world number one Tiger Woods when they went head to head for 72 holes in Dubai early last year.

The 31-year-old has one home in the Middle East state, but during the summer makes London the base for himself, wife Pernilla and their young daughter Filippa.

Sergio Garcia, Jose Maria Olazabal and Miguel Angel Jimenez split their time between the two circuits, while Jesper Parnevik and Per-Ulrik Johansson play full-time on the US Tour.

Paul Lawrie tried to do both during his year’s reign as Open champion, but found it did not suit him and opted for Europe, as did Jean Van de Velde after experimenting as well.

Another Ryder Cup player, Niclas Fasth, also tried both and ended up losing his two cards. He had to go back to the European tour qualifying school to re-establish himself.