Darren Clarke, whose wife Heather is battling cancer, today withdrew from next week's French Open in Paris.

It was due to be only the fourth appearance by Clarke in Europe this year, but his next scheduled tournament now is the European Open at the K Club starting on Thursday week.

That, of course, is where the Ryder Cup is also being played in September, but the Ulsterman is down in 26th place in the points race after missing a number of events because of his wife's health.

Clarke finished 56th in last week's US Open in New York and before that missed the halfway cut in the BMW Championship at Wentworth.