Greg Norman will allow his full US Tour membership to lapse next season to give him more time to concentrate on his many business interests one of which includes golf course design at Doonbeg Golf Club, Co Clare.
The 45-year-old has only played 11 events in the US and that falls one short of the mandatory 12 events required to keep his card.
Norman's spokesman John Story said today: "If Greg had felt like it was a must to keep his membership he would have played last week, this week and next week.
Although Norman is not retiring, his playing options in the US will be restricted next year. Under the current USPGA rules he can only play in the four majors and the Players’ Championship.
Norman still has to qualify for the three majors in the US (Masters, PGA, Open) so the Australian could play in as few as six events in the US next year. But he can play as often as he likes this side of the Atlantic as an honorary member of the European Tour.
The former world number one has won 14 European Tour titles and 70 events worldwide in a career spanning four decades. The pinnacle was two Open Championships in 1986 and 1993.