Cink taking break to care for wife

Los Angeles - Stewart Cink is taking an indefinite break from golf to care for his cancer-stricken wife, the American said on Wednesday.

Cink, a winner of the British Open in 2009, said his wife Lisa had been diagnosed with breast cancer last week, describing it as a "startling and unexpected revelation."

"We are still in the process of figuring out exactly what she is fighting, and the uncertainty continues to be very difficult," Cink, 42, said in a statement.

"In order to assist Lisa in meeting this challenge, I will be stepping away from competitive golf until circumstances improve for her. Hopefully that day will come quickly."

Cink is best known for his final day battle with Tom Watson at Turnberry in 2009, when he prevailed in a playoff to claim the claret jug and deny a fairytale victory for Watson, who would have become the oldest man to win a major.