Golf star Darren Clarke's spurned lover speaks out

The golf star, 38, even found brief happiness in a new relationship with Nicola Regan, a close family friend who helped him through the 'dark days'.

But a visit to his wife's grave over Christmas revealed how deeply he is still grieving, it emerged yesterday.

It had such a profound effect on the Ryder Cup hero that he broke off the romance he embarked on just four months after Heather's death.

On Friday, Clarke released a statement saying he and Mrs Regan had split 'by mutual consent'.

But in her first interview yesterday, the mother of six, 39, revealed: 'Darren has been suffering from delayed grief'.

The pair were apart over Christmas after Clarke, from County Tyrone, decided to spend the festive period in Northern Ireland with his family.

He met Mrs Regan to finish the relationship on his return last week.

'It is a very emotional time for him,' she said.

'It was two days after Christmas in 2001 that Heather was diagnosed with breast cancer.

'And it hit him really hard when he visited her grave. When Darren returned on Friday I met him at his home.

'He told me the grief he was feeling for his loss just couldn't enable him to carry on a relationship for the time being.

'I dearly love Darren and I was obviously very upset.

'But I totally understand how he feels and we both feel it is the right course for Darren to deal with his grief.'

Last summer, Clarke helped Europe to victory over the U.S. when he won the Ryder Cup within just six weeks of losing his wife at the age of 39 in August.

It had been Heather's dying wish that he should compete in the tournament, and Clarke gained public sympathy after he was pictured weeping on the shoulder of caddy Billy Foster.

The couple married 10 years ago after meeting in a nightclub in Northern Ireland, when Heather was a hairdresser, and have two sons, Tyrone, eight, and Conor, five.

Mrs Clarke was diagnosed with breast cancer at the end of 2001.

Friends expressed concern when Clarke started dating Mrs Regan so soon after his wife's death, taking her on trips to Dubai and Los Angeles.

He had been favourite to win last month's BBC Sports Personality of the Year award, but was placed second after news of his relationship emerged on the day of the public vote.

But he decided to issue a statement defending the relationship.

It said: 'Nicky has been a family friend for more than two years and was one of many people who helped me through the dark days after Heather's passing.

'She has continued to be shoulder to lean on and has been particularly kind and generous to my two boys.

'We both realised that our friendship was moving towards the next level.

'I know there will be some people who think we are forming a relationship too soon after Heather's passing.

'But there is no right or wrong in these circumstances and individuals must deal with them in their own way.

'Whatever happens will never diminish the love I shared with Heather.'

On Friday, the couple released a statement saying: 'Darren Clarke's relationship with family friend Nicky Regan has ended by mutual consent'.

Mrs Regan, who lives in a £3million home near Windsor, Berkshire, said the pair had agreed to remain friends.

In an interview with the News of the World yesterday, she said: 'Our children adore each other, they all get on well, and we want that to continue.

'Darren felt that right now his main priority are his two boys and he can't be in a relationship when he is grieving.

'He has been through a rollercoaster of emotions over the past five months. I think it has all got too much.'

She added: 'It seemed the best thing to do.

'We will stay good friends and I have many fond memories of our time together. Who knows what the future may bring.'