Darren Clarke has added the Wales Open to his schedule in a bid to boost his Ryder Cup chances - but as a result has decided not to try to qualify for the United States Open.
The two events follow straight on from one another, with the 36-hole qualifier at Walton Heath the day after the finish at Celtic Manor, and Clarke said: "My win in China really put my career back on track and I want to do everything I possibly can to be part of Nick Faldo's side.
"This was a very tough choice because the US Open would definitely have been on my schedule had I automatically qualified.
"Taking everything into consideration I decided that this year I would stay closer to home and concentrate on my European schedule.
"If everything works out to plan then I can possibly play my way into The Open and US PGA."
Clarke, who won the Asian Open in Shanghai three weeks ago, has been out of the top 25 just once in his last six starts, a run he hopes to extend in this week's Irish Open at Adare Manor near Limerick.
Currently 16th on the Order of Merit, it is still possible he could gain an exemption to the US Open. The top two on the money list after next week's BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth earn spots at Torrey Pines.
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