K Club return for Clarke

Darren Clarke has confirmed he will return to golf at next week’s Smurfit European Open at the K Club.

The Ryder Cup star, whose wife is battling cancer, has not played since the second round of the BMW Championship at Wentworth and last week missed his first major since 1998.

“Heather is thankfully out of hospital now and her progress is such that we felt the time was right for me to return,” said the Irishman.

“Heather has been boosted by get well cards and messages of support, plus the wonderful care and attention received at the Royal Brompton Hospital. We can’t thank everybody enough.”

Clarke has not mapped out a long-term schedule and will continue to assess the situation on a weekly basis.

“It will be good to get back, and particularly in Ireland at a course and tournament I have always enjoyed playing,” he said.

The event was to be the one he missed in the build-up to the Open at St Andrews, but he will be returning from a four-week break.