Clarke puts family first

Family will continue to come first for Darren Clarke next year – even if it means missing the first-ever Ryder Cup on Irish soil.

After a second round 67 today Clarke lies in joint second place at the halfway point of the Madrid Open.

The Northern Irishman was due to be in America these last two weeks, but changed plans because of his wife Heather’s battle with cancer.

He can leap up the Ryder Cup qualifying table by taking his first title of the year on Sunday, but said: “I’m not thinking about that at all.

“I don’t know what’s going to be happening in two weeks’ time, whether I’m going to be playing golf or not playing golf.

“If the Ryder Cup happens it happens, but if Heather was still ill or up and down I might have to withdraw.

“I would only want to be playing if I was going to be of benefit to the team, not if my mind was not there.”

Clarke has already had to take two month-long breaks from the game this season and has played one of the first six qualifying events for Ian Woosnam’s team.

He stands 11 under par at Club de Campo, but that is still three strokes behind France’s Raphael Jacquelin, who had back-to-back 64s.

Spaniard Ivo Giner returned a staggering 11 under par 60 – 15 better than his first round effort – but it did not equal the European tour record because placing the ball was allowed because of the wet conditions.