Back in UK: Lee Westwood and his wife of 16 years have reportedly split

Golf star Lee Westwood is set to lose up to half his £30million fortune after splitting up from his wife Laurae.

It is claimed Lee 42, who has played in the last eight Ryder Cups, and Laurae, 40, have made the decision after a number of rows.

Laurae and their children, Sam, 14 and Poppy, 10, are likely to return from their home in Florida to live in the UK.

Sources say Lee is being comforted by his parents Trish and John in Worksop, Nottinghamshire.

'There is absolutely no prospect of reconciliation, it's curtains. It couldn't be any worse,' according to a source quoted in The Sun.

'If Laurae decides to move back near her family in Scotland, his career could be derailed for good.'

Lee, who only had one tour win in 2014, had been hoping to fare better this year and will want to climb up the current rankings.

The sportsman declined to speak about the split, saying: 'I don't comment on my private life.'

The couple currently live in a £4million, five-bedroom home in a gated community looking across a golf course in Palm Beach in Florida, having moved to the states to practise all year around in 2012.

Lee was named player of the year in 1998, 2000 and 2009 but despite his success, he has never won any of golf's four top titles - the Masters, the US Open, the Open and the PGA Championship.

In October 2010, Westwood became the World number one golfer, ending the reign of Tiger Woods, and becoming the first British golfer since Nick Faldo in 1994 to hold the esteemed position.

Wedding day: Golfer Lee Westwood kisses his bride Laurae Coltart after their wedding at St Ann's Church in Worksop in 1999

Split: The couple met were married in 1999 after meeting at the Scottish Open four years earlier

The couple were married in 1999 after meeting at the Scottish Open four years earlier. She is the sister of Scots golf star Andrew Coltart.

It is the latest in a series of high-profile splits within the sport with Rory McIlroy calling off his wedding to Danish tennis ace Caroline Wozniacki. Tiger Woods paid his Swedish-birn wife Elin £70million following their break-up in 2009 after his cheating was exposed.

A spokesman for Westwood also reportedly declined to comment.

High profile split: Golfer Rory McIlroy and tennis star Caroline Wozniacki before their split

Glamorous: Europe Ryder Cup team member Lee and Laurae pose for a picture outside Cardiff Castle in 2010 (left) and at St Andrew's Old Course in 2003