Golfer Darren Clarke of Northern Irelans has received thousands of messages from friends and fans since the death of his wife last month.

Buoyed by the support, he is considered a wild-card pick for the European Ryder Cup even though he hasn't played competitively since missing the cut at the British Open in July. On Sunday, Ian Woosnam will make two captain's picks for the Ryder Cup team.

Clarke took time off to be with his 39-year-old wife, Heather, who died of breast cancer on Aug. 13.

``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,'' Clarke 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.''

Clarke has spent the past few weeks with his two sons.

``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,'' Clarke said. ``Exactly when that will be, I'm not sure yet, but things may become a bit clearer after the weekend.''

Clarke has entered the Madrid Masters, a European Tour event staged the week before the Ryder Cup at The K Club.

``Thousands of messages, cards and e-mails have been flooding in since Heather passed away. I will continue to wade through them until I have read every last one and I have already started replying,'' Clarke wrote on his website. ``It will be impossible to send a personal message to everybody because it would take years.''

The European Tour will donate a portion of money from every program sold at the Ryder Cup to breast cancer research and charities.