Defending champion
Darren Clarke has been forced to withdraw from the WGC Accenture
World Match Play Championship which takes place in Melbourne on
3 January.
A brief statement
from Clarke said that he was pulling out of the event for family
reasons.
"It's a major
disappointment as I was really looking forward to defending my title,
but in the circumstances I need to be with my family," said father
of two Clarke.
A spokesman
for the golfer added that the circumstances were a "very personal
and serious issue".
The spokesman
emphasised that Clarke was not pulling out of the event because
of dissatisfaction with the timing and location.
Many of the
world's best golfers including Tiger Woods have opted out for those
reasons.
"It's a personal
issue for Darren and his family and out of regard for him, I don't
want to go any further into it," said David Brookes.
"He had no
intention of pulling out of the event but priorities are priorities
and Darren needs to be with (his wife) Heather and the kids now."
