Rory McIlroy is concentrating on Europe rather than America because he wants to avoid burn-out. His meteoric rise up the rankings this year entitled him to US Tour membership, but on the eve of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth he has pledged his immediate future to his home circuit.

"I don't want to play 30 events a year and get burn-out," said the 20-year-old Ulsterman. "I had not planned on having a PGA Tour card for two or three years, so it was an easy decision to make in that respect.

"I'm very happy in Europe. I'll play the majors and the World Golf Championships and I think the way my schedule has worked out is perfect."

In February, McIlroy won his maiden professional title at the Dubai Desert Open and a couple of months later got his first taste of a major, finishing joint 20th at The Masters on two under par.

McIlroy was well down the field in last week's Irish Open and missed the cut in the Players Championship in Florida before that, but the world No20 is not troubled ahead of an event where, last year, he also lasted only two days.

"Golf's a very fickle game - you can come in and out of form very quickly," said McIlroy, who will tee off at 7.40am in the company of countryman Graeme McDowell and Ben Curtis.

Ten minutes later Oliver Wilson will begin his round at the course where he came within a whisker of finally claiming his first Tour win.

Eight times he has endured the frustration of finishing runner-up, including at Wentworth this time last year when he held a one-shot lead with two holes, both par fives, to go.

European golf's most prestigious title, and the first prize of almost £600,000, were within Wilson's grasp. Then he let it all go by firing into the trees off the 17th tee for a bogey six.

Miguel Angel Jimenez pounced to force a play-off, which the veteran Spaniard won at the second extra hole.

That kind of defeat would have knocked the stuffing out of many of his peers. But the 28-year-old Englishman is philosophical about past setbacks and optimistic about the future.

He said: "At a tournament like the PGA, with the quality of field, you simply can't afford to make mistakes like I did coming down the stretch. At the time it was frustrating but I quickly got over it. Overall, it was a great week for me and I learned a lot.

"To be honest, I'm very happy with the way things are going for me. I feel like I'm getting closer all the time to where I want to be technically."

There is nothing wrong with Wilson's temperament, as he proved in the Ryder Cup last September when he became the first player to make a European team without a title to his name.

Competing in the second day foursomes alongside Henrik Stenson, he battled back from four down to beat home heroes Phil Mickelson and Anthony Kim two and one.

"I know I can win majors," said Wilson, who plays alongside Dane Soren Kjeldsen and Richard Sterne, of South Africa tomorrow,

"I know I can win big tournaments like the PGA. But even if I was to win this week, just one title wouldn't be enough for me. I feel like I want to look back on my career and have at least double digits in the winning column.

"I really believe that when it does finally happen for me, a lot will follow. I've just got to keep doing the same things I've always done and the door will open. I know it will."

Jimenez will begin his defence of the title at 12.35pm in a marquee grouping with Masters champion Angel Cabrera, of Argentina, and crowd favourite Jose Maria Olazabal of Spain.

However, the champion's hopes have been hit by a shoulder problem which has needed treatment.

Henrik Stenson's superb victory at the Players Championship in Florida makes him the highest-ranked player in the event and he is out at 8am with fellow Swede Robert Karlsson and South African Retief Goosen.

For Stenson to climb even higher than his current fourth place - behind Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Sergio Garcia - he needs to improve a very poor record in the tournament. In eight previous appearances Stenson's best finish was eighth two years ago - and he was never in contention that week.

"It's a classic old golf course. There's a lot of history and tradition here," said the 33-year-old. "It's a course I like playing. I haven't done my best in the past, but obviously I hope to change that this year."

Stenson's group tomorrow are followed immediately by Ernie Els, Ross Fisher and Paul Casey, then by Colin Montgomerie, Paul McGinley and twice winner Anders Hansen.

The later starters include Lee Westwood, Luke Donald and Justin Rose, while for the second time in three weeks big-hitters John Daly and Alvaro Quiros are partners.