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McGinley's priority is to support Clarke

Paul McGinley stressed it was an "easy decision" for him to pull out of this week's US PGA championship following the death of…

Mon Aug 14 2006 - 01:00

Paul McGinley stressed it was an "easy decision" for him to pull out of this week's US PGA championship following the death of close friend Darren Clarke's wife.

Heather Clarke, 39, passed away peacefully at 2.15am on Sunday morning in London's Royal Marsden Hospital after a long battle with cancer.

McGinley currently occupies the 10th and final automatic qualifying place in the Ryder Cup standings but could drop down the table following his decision not to compete at Medinah.

It leaves him with just two more events - the Bridgestone Invitational in Ohio and BMW International in Munich, both of which he intends to play - to clinch his third cap and avoid the need for a wild card.

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"Some things are more important than the Ryder Cup and this is one of them," said McGinley, who holed the winning putt at The Belfry in 2002 and was unbeaten

in the record-breaking victory at Oakland Hills in 2004.

"It was not really a big decision, it was a decision I made quite easily to be honest and I'm not the one to have sympathy for."

Ryder Cup captain Ian Woosnam said he could understand McGinley's decision, but did add: "Would Heather want Paul to do that?

"I can understand what he is doing. That's up to Paul, he is very close to the family."

McGinley learnt the news via a text message from Clarke on Sunday morning and admitted it was tough to concentrate during his final-round 70 at the KLM Open.

"Our two families are very much intertwined, obviously me and Darren out here, but Heather and Ali (McGinley's wife) were the best of friends and our kids are in the same class at school," he added.

"It is a tough, tough time for us all. I'm glad that round is over and I have pulled out of the US PGA championship to attend the funeral.

"You don't ever want to see anybody go, you always hold out hope right to the last minute. But boy she put up some battle, she put up some fight.

"It has been a tough ride for us all the last couple of years, but especially for Darren. He will have some issues to deal with now, but we will fully support him in any way we can."