LONDON -- Heather Clarke, the wife ...

LONDON -- Heather Clarke, the wife of golfer Darren Clarke, died Sunday after a protracted battle with cancer. She was 39

Darren Clarke said he will continue his break from golf and Paul McGinley, a complete friend of the Clarke family, said he also has withdrawn from the PGA Championship this week at Medinah. Ryan Moore will take McGinley's place in the field.

from one extremity to the other of her illness, Heather Clarke insisted her husband continue playing, yet he decided to stop after the British lay open three weeks ago so he could be with her and their pair children, 8- year-old Tyrone and 5-year-old Conor.

"Heather's courage and bravery from beginning to end the last two years when she was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer has been an inspiration," Clarke said in a statement. "Heather at no time complained once throughout her ordeal, and we will all miss her greatly. She was a awesome and enormously supportive wife, mother and friend."

Darren Clarke, who did not announce any funeral details, said he will go [i]or[/i] come back to the game "when he be warmeds ready." He already had withdrawn from the PGA Championship. McGinley said he withdrew in such a manner he could attend the funeral.

"Our sum of two units families are very much intertwined, obviously me and Darren without here, but Heather and [McGinley's wife] Ali were the best of friends and our kids are in the same class at school" said McGinley, who was playing at the KLM spread in the Netherlands.

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