Love cheat Monty & his £5m divorce
Ryder Cup hero admits cheating but says post-nuptial deal with Gaynor was unfair
GOLF star Colin Montgomerie had affairs with other women while married to his second wife Gaynor, a court heard yesterday.
The former Ryder Cup captain told the Court of Session he “wasn’t proud” of having cheated on his partner during their marriage.
The 53-year-old sportsman said that Gaynor discovered a text message to an illicit lover while they were on holiday in Dubai.
He told the court she issued an “ultimatum” to him and said their marriage would be over if he didn’t sign a so-called “postnuptial” agreement.
Montgomery said he signed the document, which detailed how he would hand over a half share in the home he stayed in with Gaynor.
The court heard the handover would be activated if Gaynor caught him cheating on her.
He told the court he signed the document in January 2010 because he wanted the marriage to work and didn’t want to resign as Ryder Cup captain.
He said: “I loved her. I knew my straying days were over. I wanted the marriage to work.
“I would have had to resign as Ryder Cup captain.”
Montgomerie, who currently lives with his father James in Troon, was giving evidence on the first day of divorce proceedings at the Court of Session in Edinburgh.
Lawyers acting for Montgomerie claim he believes the postnuptial agreement was unfair and unjust.
The deal was signed after Monty was caught cheating with another woman. It committed the sportsman to paying for the upkeep of Gaynor’s £2million farmhouse in Dunning, Perthshire.
Montgomerie is suing Gaynor for £5million and is also demanding payments from her of £6500 per month. Court papers lodged by Montgomerie’s lawyers claim Gaynor placed him under pressure to enter into the postnuptial agreement so their marriage could continue.
They state that Gaynor had discovered he had been having an extra-marital affair. They add that Gaynor inherited the farmhouse when her first husband, furniture tycoon George Knowles, died. It was in her own name before she married Montgomerie.
Her lawyers say the golfer wanted to make changes to the property when he moved in.
Gaynor is said to have agreed to then transfer the house into joint names on condition that if they separated he would transfer the title back to her.
Gaynor is demanding Montgomerie honours the alleged deal. She is countersuing him for £5million and £10,000 per month payments.
Montgomerie told his advocate Kenneth McBrearty QC that he had cheated on Gaynor during their time together. The couple married in 2008.
When Mr McBrearty asked his client whether he had affairs during his time with Gaynor, Monty replied: “Yes. These are not my best moments. I can honestly say I’m not very proud of that time.”
The court heard Monty say that during the time he and Gaynor were together, they decided to look for a house.
After looking in London and Auchterarder, near Gleneagles, Gaynor decided she wanted to stay at the home she inherited from her late husband.
Montgomerie told the court he was “unhappy” to move into the property because it had “belonged” to another man.
He said Gaynor agreed to “rebuild” the property, which was to feature a “trophy room” and a wine cellar. The cellar was originally to be 40ft deep but later changed.
Montgomerie told the court that
Champ’s wife confronts Monty with text message to secret lover
She asks him to pay for share of mansion if he strays again
He agrees to deal to save marriage but now says it was unfair
months before he captained the European Ryder Cup team in Wales in 2010, Gaynor discovered he been having a relationship with another woman.
The court heard that she had found a text message Montgomerie had sent to another woman. The discovery came during a holiday to Dubai. The couple argued.
Montgomerie told the court Gaynor told him he would have to sign a postnuptial agreement agreeing to give back his half share to the farmhouse if he decided to cheat again.
He told the court: “It was an ultimatum. She said if I didn’t sign, the marriage would be over. I didn’t want to get divorced.”
Montgomerie said that when he signed the document, Gaynor became relaxed with him.
In June 2010, Gaynor asked Montgomerie to sign another agreement which would result in paying Gaynor more money if he continued to cheat on her.
However, Montgomerie declined to sign the document.
He told Gaynor’s advocate Janys Scott QC that he had received advice and decided not to sign the document.
He told Ms Scott: “I couldn’t sign away every infidelity. It was costing me too much.”
At lunchtime, Montgomerie issued a statement through his solicitors.
It read: “I will not be commenting on my private life other than to confirm that I raised proceedings some time ago seeking divorce from Gaynor.
“This matter is now being dealt with by the court. I ask that you respect our privacy in this difficult time.
“I will be making no further comment on the matter.”
The hearing before judge Lord Doherty continues.