Ryder Cup hero Clarke pulls out of Australian PGA event; Russian cosmonaut to tee off in space

Darren Clarke, the Northern Ireland golfer who lost his wife Heather to cancer this summer, has withdrawn from next month’s Australian PGA Championship to spend more time with his children …

“He’s just emotionally exhausted and he needs to spend time at home with his children,” tournament spokesman John Dunlop said Friday. “The PGA of Australia sympathizes with his position and we certainly wish him success in the future.”

Tiger Woods, eat your heart out! On Wednesday, Nov. 22, Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Tyurin is expected to hit the mother of all drives from the 220-mile-high international space station. If Tyurin makes solid contact with his gold-plated ball, it should fly for two to three days …

Ai Miyazato took the early lead at the ADT Championship yesterday, shooting a 4-under-par 68 in the LPGA Tour’s season-ending event. Karrie Webb is one shot back.