New Zealand golfer Tim Wilkinson will bypass this month's New Zealand Open at Queenstown in favour of remaining in the United States for the PGA Tour's Northern Trust Open in California.
Wilkinson, whose 2009 PGA season was wrecked by a thumb injury, has a medical exemption to play the tour this year.
He earned $US297,008 ($NZ411,769) from last year's part season - up until June - and has 12 events this year to earn $US365,675 to make up the difference from last year's part season to retain his PGA tour card.
He left today for his first PGA tournament, the US$5.5 million Sony Open in Hawaii starting on Friday.
"I wanted to play the New Zealand Open and I would like to play it," he said.
"But I never entered the tournament and I need to prepare well for the PGA tour events," Wilkinson told the Manawatu Evening Standard. "I don't want to travel all around the place and not be prepared to play my best over there."
Had he played the NZ Open, he would have had to fly out on Monday, February 1, and had only the Tuesday and Wednesday to prepare for the Northern Trust Open in Los Angeles.
In two seasons on the PGA tour, Wilkinson has earned $US1,504,335.
