Clarke pulls out of Volvo Masters

By Norman Dabell

SOTOGRANDE, Spain (Reuters) – Darren Clarke, whose wife
Heather is suffering from cancer, withdrew from the Volvo
Masters after shooting a second round 75 on Friday, unable to
concentrate on his game.

“Valderrama is not the course to be playing when your mind
is elsewhere,” said Clarke after slipping nine-over-par for the
tournament.

“Volvo are such great sponsors of our tour that I didn’t
want to let them down by pulling out before their flagship
event started, even though I knew I was going to struggle.

“I have tried over every shot, but unless your mind is
totally on what you are doing, the results can be
professionally soul-destroying and I have decided I will be
better off at home.”

The Northern Irishman has twice taken one-month breaks to
be with his wife. His next tournament is due to be the Taiheiyo
Masters in Japan in two weeks’ time.

Volvo event management president Mel Pyatt said: “Obviously
it’s very sad that Darren can’t participate further but we
fully understand the situation.

“We can only hope everything will progress very positively
for him and his wife.”

Clarke was told by the U.S. PGA Tour on Friday that he will
not lose his 2006 U.S. Tour membership.

Because of his wife’s condition he had been unable to
complete his mandatory 15 events in America.