GOLFER Colin Montgomerie has admitted in court he had a number of affairs with women while married to his second wife Gaynor Knowles.
The former Ryder Cup Captain told the Court of Session yesterday he “wasn’t proud” at having repeatedly cheated on his partner during their marriage.
The 53-year-old told judge Lord Doherty his wife discovered a text message to a lover while they were on holiday in Dubai. He said Ms Knowles issued an “ultimatum” to him and said that their marriage would be over if he didn’t sign a so-called “post nuptial” agreement.
Mr Montgomerie said he signed the document which detailed how he would hand over a half share in the home he stayed in with Ms Knowles to the housewife. It would be activated if Ms Knowles 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.”
Mr Montgomerie, who now lives with his father in Troon, was giving evidence on the first day of divorce action proceedings at the Court of Session in Edinburgh.
Lawyers acting for Mr Montgomerie claim he believes the post-nuptial agreement was unfair and unjust. It committed him to pay for the upkeep of Ms Knowles’s £2 million farmhouse in Dunning, Perthshire. Mr Montgomerie is suing Ms Knowles for £5m and is also demanding payments from her of £6,500 per month.
Court papers lodged by Mr Montgomerie’s lawyers claim Ms Knowles placed him under pressure to enter into the post- nuptial agreement so their marriage could continue. It states Ms Knowles had discovered her husband had been having an extra marital affair.
The papers state Ms Knowles inherited the farmhouse when her first husband, businessman George Knowles, died and it was in her own name before she married Mr Montgomerie. Her lawyers say the golfer wanted to make changes to the property when he moved in. She is said to have then agreed to transfer the house into joint names on condition that if they separated he would transfer the title back to her.
Ms Knowles is demanding Mr Montgomerie honours the alleged deal and is counter suing him for £5m and £10,000 per month. Mr Montgomerie told his advocate Kenneth McBrearty QC he had cheated on Ms Knowles during their time together. The couple married in 2008.
Mr Montgomerie said: “These are not my best moments. I’m not very proud of that time.”
Mr Montgomerie told the court Ms Knowles said he would have to sign a post-nuptial agreement, saying he would give back his half share to the house if he cheated again. In June 2010, Ms Knowles asked Mr Montgomerie to sign another agreement which would result in paying her more money if he continued to cheat on her, but he refused to sign.
He told Ms Knowles’s advocate Janys Scott QC: “I couldn’t sign away every infidelity. It was costing me too much.”
The hearing continues.
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