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Clarke pulls out of Volvo Masters

Posted on: Friday, 28 October 2005, 09:54 CDT

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.

Source: REUTERS

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