Clarke - will miss US Open.

Darren Clarke has withdrawn from next week's US Open as his wife Heather continues her battle against cancer.

The Ryder Cup star has not played since withdrawing halfway through the BMW Championship at Wentworth two weeks ago after she returned to hospital.

"It is more important for me to be here with my family," said father-of-two Clarke in a statement.

"Hopefully Heather will be out of hospital soon and I will be able to return to the game, but there are more important issues to be dealt with at the moment than swinging a golf club."

Heather came out of intensive care on Monday and it is hoped she will be released from hospital some time next week.

Clarke is then considering a limited schedule depending, of course, on her health.

Next week's event will be the first major he has missed since 1998 and Pinehurst is the course where the 36-year-old Northern Irishman had his best-ever finish in the US Open, joint 10th in 1999.