Golf star Montgomerie sets up all-star tournament on wedding day

Apr 13 2008 By Lesley Roberts

Exclusive Monty Sets Up An All-Star Golf Tourney On Morning Of Wedding To Heiress Gaynor Smitten Scot Forks Out £1m On Lavish Bash On The Banks Of Loch Lomond

COLIN MONTGOMERIE is to host an all-star golf tournament with his wedding guests...just hours before he walks up the aisle.

The Ryder Cup hero has organised a pro-am tournament with celebrities and golf stars on the morning of his £1million marriage at Loch Lomond Golf Club to wealthy widow Gaynor Knowles.

Hollywood actor Hugh Grant, Prince Andrew and Rangers boss Walter Smith are among the guests told to bring their golf clubs to the nuptials next Saturday.

But they were stunned to learn Monty planned to play with the golfers among his 400 guests just hours before his own big match.

Monty, 44, will play one hole with each group taking part - giving him time to chat before the wedding starts.

The golf party will then join the rest of the guests for the marriage ceremony in a marquee at the side of the loch.

Drinks will be served after the ceremony at 18thcentury Rossdhu House.

A friend said: "It's a cracking idea from the big man. He's saying it will help calm his nerves before the wedding.

"Monty doesn't get fazed playing in the world's biggest tournaments in front of hundreds of millions of TV viewers.

"He's personally organised all the groups and was even joking that he was going to pair his Ryder Cup pal Paul McGinley, who is a massive Celtic fan, with Walter.

"Like most blokes, he thinks he'll get a bit wound up on the morning of his wedding and this is the perfect way to take his mind off things.

"Most grooms don't do much on their wedding morning anyway. It's not as if he would have much to keep him occupied.

"He's put up a mystery prize for the winners and he's told friends the cost of the wedding is getting up to £1 million. But it's not as though they are short of cash."

Gaynor, 40 - the widow of Sterling furniture tycoon George Knowles Jnr - is putting finishing touches to her dress, details of which have been kept a closely guarded secret.

Her daughters Lindsey, 15, Christie, 12, and seven-year-old Aimee will be bridesmaids, along with Monty's daughters Olivia and Venetia.

The couple have a total of seven children from their previous marriages.

Gaynor was widowed in 2003 when her husband died at only 41.

Monty's divorce from wife Eimear was finalised in 2006 after a 14-year marriage.

Among the other guests confirmed for the extravagant bash are rugby ace Gavin Hastings, sports presenters Dougie Donnelly and Hazel Irvine, TV host Kirsty Gallacher and supermodel Jodie Kidd. Top golfers invited include Sam Torrance, Lee Westwood, Robert Karlsson and reigning Open champ Padraig Harrington.

Rangers boss Smith is expected to leave early if his team beat Partick Thistle today to book a Scottish Cup semifinal against St Johnstone next Sunday.

It has been rumoured that one special guest will be superstar singer Robbie Williams but even those going to Loch Lomond don't know whether the former Take That star will appear.

Monty has insisted on a Scottish flavour to the wedding menu, including a salmon and scrambled egg breakfast before the pro-am golf tournament.

And he has consulted golfer Miguel Angel Jimenez, known as a wine expert among his Ryder Cup teammates, over the drinks.

Monty's manager, Guy Kinnings - who he describes as "like a brother" to him - will be best man and male guests have been asked to wear kilts.

Guy has already arranged video messages from golf stars, including world No.1 Tiger Woods, who will not be able to make it.

Dougie Donnelly - who introduced Monty and Gaynor - will be there with wife Linda.

He said: "My wife played a big part in getting the two of them together.

"I'd had dinner with Monty at a tournament in Austria and he was feeling a bit down. I told my wife when I got back home and it was her idea really to introduce Colin to Gaynor, who's been a friend of ours for years.

"We arranged to go out as a foursome and we met at our house up at Gleneagles, had a drink there, went for dinner at the hotel and the rest is history."

Their match-making has worked so well that other single golfers are now asking Dougie to set them up too.

Dougie laughed: "I'm now accepting applications from most of the guys on the golf tour. We're just really happy that it's all worked out so well for Colin and Gaynor and we hope that they'll be happy together.

"It will be a great wedding, I'm sure of that."

Monty has revealed he plans to move from his base in England to set up home with Gaynor at her mansion in Drum of Garvock, Perthshire.

The couple are planning a £1.5million refurbishment, including new trophy rooms.

MAILFILE

MONTY joins a long line of stars to splash out on a lavish Scottish wedding. They include:

Madonna, right, and Guy Ritchie at Skibo Castle, Sutherland, in December 2000.

Race ace Dario Franchitti wed actress Ashley Judd at Skibo in December 2001.

Actors Emma Thompson and Greg Wise married at Loch Ech, Argyll, in July 2003.

Designer Stella McCartney wed publisher Alasdhair Willis on Bute in August 2003.

'It's a cracking idea ..Monty says it will calm his nerves before the ceremony'

Family friend

SUNDAY EMAIL

l.roberts@sundaymail.co.uk