Coughlan chose to concentrate on playing in the United States full-time, and finished a career-best 9th at the 1998 B.C.

Open, but lost his card at the end of the season.

He regained his card for 2001 at the Q-School, but again failed to hold onto it.

Coughlan also played on the Nationwide Tour until the end of 2005.

This biographical article relating to Republic of Ireland golf is a stub.