'I'm sorry for the hurt' – Monty fights to save marriage after affair with ex

• A tabloid newspaper claims Montgomerie cheated on his second wife Pic: Getty

The Scottish golfer yesterday issued a brief statement, apologising for the "hurt" he had caused to those who loved him, after tabloid newspaper claims that he had cheated on his second wife, Gaynor, the widow he married in April 2008, in a lavish ceremony on the banks of Loch Lomond.

Monty, 47, who is due to return to Celtic Manor in September to lead the European team in their bid to win back the Ryder Cup from America, is alleged to have been having a secret affair with his ex-lover Joanne Baldwin.

The former European No.1 had an 18-month relationship with Ms Baldwin, a divorced mother of two, after he was divorced by his first wife Eimear, in 2004.

His relationship with Ms Baldwin ended four years ago, a few months before Monty met Gaynor Knowles.

Monty said in a brief statement, issued through his management company IMG: "I have put my marriage under considerable strain, but we are working through these problems.

"I am very sorry for the hurt I have caused to the ones I love so much. I would ask that my family and I are given the space and privacy to continue trying to resolve the issues."

His manager, Guy Kinnings, who was Monty's best man at his wedding to Gaynor, told The Scotsman: "As he says in the statement, it is something that has happened and he has been working on with his wife and he just wants to continue to be able to sort of work on that in privacy, hopefully."

A leading Scottish golf source, who did not wished to be identified, said the revelations would shock the world of golf.

He said: "Colin is an incredibly silly man. There is no doubt that Gaynor has helped sort him out big style."

He added: "Colin never criticised Tiger Woods when the revelations about his affairs were made public. And now we know the reason why."

Monty's first marriage, to Eimear Wilson, ended in an acrimonious divorce after 14 years. The settlement is reputed to have cost him 12.5 million.

His relationship with Ms Baldwin, a mother of two, began in 2005 when he met her at a private school in Surrey where they both sent their children. Ms Baldwin was still married, although she and her husband, Nigel, were living separate lives. They have since divorced.

When Monty won his eighth European tour Order of Merit title at Valderrama in October, 2005, she was behind the 18th green to greet him. She was also highly visible at The Open at St Andrews that summer.

Montgomerie hinted at the possibility of marrying his new partner at the time. but they split after 18 months.

In August 2007 he announced his engagement to Gaynor Knowles, widow of the furniture tycoon George Knowles whose family built up Tillicoultry-based Sterling Furniture. The couple married eight months later.

They have seven children between them. Monty had two daughters and a son with Eimear.

COLIN'S HISTORY

1990: Colin Montgomerie marries his childhood sweetheart Eimear Wilson at the Old Parish Church in Troon after she had obtained a law degree from Edinburgh University. The couple have two daughters and a son.

2000: The couple split for ten weeks, leading to an emotional Monty crying during the Open at St Andrews.

2001: Their marriage hits the rocks amid allegations that Eimear was romantically linked to actor Hugh Grant.

2004: The couple divorce in September.Two months after the marriage ends, Monty has a brief affair with actress Ines Sastre.

2005: Monty begins an 18 month on-off relationship with Joanne Baldwin, a mother of two whom he met doing the school run.

2006: Monty pays his former wife a divorce settlement estimated at half his 25 million fortune.

October, 2006: Monty meets Gaynor Knowles, the widow of Scots furniture-tycoon George Knowles.

August, 2007: Monty and Gaynor announce their engagement after Monty pops the question at Gleneagles Hotel in Perthshire.