 Darren Clarke hopes to be selected for the Ryder Cup |
Darren Clarke has spoken of the "thousands of messages, cards and emails" he has received since his wife Heather died of cancer on 13 August. "I had absolutely no idea just how Heather's death had touched so many people," Clarke said on his website.
"I would just like to say to you all just how much I appreciate your kind words and thoughts during this most difficult of times."
Clarke is expected to be picked for the European team for the Ryder Cup.
The Dungannon player is entered for the Madrid Masters in a fortnight - that comes just a week before the clash against the United States at the K Club in Ireland.
European captain Ian Woosnam will announce his team on Sunday, with Clarke likley to be selected as one of two wild cards.
Commenting on the messages on his personal website, the 38-year-old added: "I will continue to wade through them until I have read every last one and I have already started replying.
"It will be impossible to send a personal message to everybody because it would take years.
"The Clarke household has had to start anew and I have been occupying my time with Tyrone and Conor (sons aged eight and five) as we all re-adjust our lives.
 | I don't think it would be fair or appropriate for me to join that debate at this time |
"I haven't neglected my golf totally during the enforced absence from the game.
"I've been hitting balls a bit and I'm already looking forward to returning to the game."
"Exactly when that will be I'm not sure yet, but things may become a bit clearer after the weekend."
Clarke is waiting for a final decision on the Ryder Cup but he is delighted with a kind gesture from the organisers of the three-day event.
"Obviously many people have been speculating about the Ryder Cup, but I don't think it would be fair or appropriate for me to join that debate at this time," he said.
"The only thing I can confirm is that captain Ian Woosnam knows that if he thinks I would add something to his team then I will make myself available.
"I would also like to thank the European Tour for their very generous offer of donating one Euro for every programme sold at the Ryder Cup to breast cancer research and charities."
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