Ryder Cup star Darren Clarke's wife Heather passed away peacefully at 2.15am on Sunday morning in London's Royal Marsden Hospital after a long battle with cancer.

Heather, who was 39, had encouraged her husband to play as often as possible throughout her fight, but the Ulsterman quit golf after the Open championship three weeks ago to be with her and their two children Tyrone (8) and Conor (5).

The Clarkes, regular subscribers to several charities, have for a long time promoted cancer awareness and Darren Clarke recently auctioned a European tour 'Shot of the Month' trophy to raise money for a breast cancer charity.

"Heather's courage and bravery throughout the last two years when she was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer has been an inspiration," said Clarke.

"Heather never complained once throughout her ordeal and we will all miss her greatly. She was a wonderful and enormously supportive wife, mother and friend."

No funeral details have been announced yet, but a statement said that Clarke, who will be 38 on Monday, will return to the game "when he feels ready".

Ireland's first-ever staging of the Ryder Cup is just six weeks away, but Clarke, a member of the last four sides, is down in 30th place in the standings after missing a number of events to be spend time with his wife and is almost certainly not going to play now.

Despite her worsening condition he managed to produce some sparkling golf this summer, just missing out on victory at the Irish Open and leading the Scottish Open before slipping back to fifth.

In his last appearance at Hoylake Clarke, twice a winner of World Golf Championship titles, was only three off the lead after an opening 69, but then missed the halfway cut following an 82.

It was during the week that he announced he would not be playing "for the foreseeable future" because of Heather's health.

"My game has been good, but my mind has obviously been elsewhere," he said then. "Now the priority is to be my wife and family and support them in every way that I can.

"I know that many people will be wondering about the Ryder Cup, but such things are not in my thoughts at the moment. Now is the time to concentrate on matters much more important than golf.

"I would like to thank everybody for their kind messages of support. Your feelings and thoughts have meant a lot to us all."

Clarke met Heather in a nightclub in Portrush, near his Dungannon home. He asked if she would like a drink and on receiving the shot of sambuca from the bar accidentally spilled the entire contents over her dress.

He then dropped the second and on taking her to the dancefloor stubbed a cigarette into her brand new jacket lying on the ground.

Despite that unpromising beginning they quickly began dating and after marrying set up home in Sunningdale west of London, from where they travelled the world together and raised their two sons.

Her loss will be deeply felt by the entire golfing community, many of whom will be gathering in Chicago this week for the US PGA championship, the final major of the year.

Clarke had withdrawn from that in midweek.

Before teeing off in the final round of the KLM Open in Holland Clarke's close friend Paul McGinley added: "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.

"So it is a tough, tough time for us all. I don't know how I am going to concentrate today.

"I will play today, but I have pulled out of next week's 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."

McGinley is in the 10th and last automatic selection spot in Europe's Ryder Cup table and could be knocked down the table because of his decision not to go to Medinah.

It leaves him with just two more events - the Bridgestone world championship in Ohio and BMW International in Munich - to clinch his third cap and avoid the need for a wild card.

Ryder Cup Captain Ian Woosnam commented: "All the players and the guys out here on Tour have known that Heather has been struggling for a couple of years now and we all just feel very sorry for Darren and sorry for his family at this time.

"I just hope they can get over this as soon as possible."

George O'Grady, executive director of the European Tour, said: "Everyone connected with the Tour will be immensely saddened by this news. We extend out deepest sympathy, our thoughts and our prayers to Darren, Tyrone and Conor and the families."