Monty among guests at new Trump course opening

THREE of Scotland’s top golfers – Colin Montgomerie, Paul Lawrie and Martin Laird – are to join tycoon Donald Trump at the celebrations to mark the opening of his £750 million golf resort in Aberdeenshire next month, it was confirmed yesterday.

Monty, who led Europe to victory as captain of the Ryder Cup team, Lawrie, the former Open champion at Carnoustie, and Laird, Scotland’s highest ranked golfer, will attend the official opening of the new championship course at the Menie estate near Balmedie on 10 July.

The guests will also include George O’Grady, chief executive of the European Tour, and PGA chief executive Sandy Jones.

It has already been announced that First Minister Alex Salmond has not been invited to the opening ceremony following his fall-out with the American billionaire over the proposed siting of an offshore wind farm close to the Menie development.

Sarah Malone, the executive vice-president of Trump International Golf Links Scotland, said: “We have several days of events and activities planned to mark the opening of Trump International Golf Links Scotland. Hundreds of guests will play our championship links course for the first time during the opening week from 10 to 14 July.”