COLIN MONTGOMERIE has put an end to the feuding with his former wife by agreeing one of the biggest divorce settlements recorded in Britain. The golfer was said yesterday to be relieved that the bitter and very public break-up can be put behind him. Montgomerie, whose fortune is put at more than £25 million, is understood to have agreed to pay his wife, Eimear, up to £15 million to finalise the divorce.

In return for a one-off payment more than twice as big as previously expected, Mrs Montgomerie has agreed to a clean break by giving up the right to a claim on his future earnings. The size of the settlement, which outstrips the £7 million sum paid by Nick Faldo to his former wife, Gill, is said to take into account Montgomerie’s return to form in the past 12 months, in which he has risen from 83rd in the world to 8th, and earned £5 million.

The couple were due in court at the end of last month for a hearing on how their financial affairs should be settled, but agreement was reached at the eleventh hour, but the golfer was reluctant to make public any details. However, his former wife last night played down the extent of the divorce deal. “Colin and I have settled. I am not allowed to discuss the details but I can say the settlement was nothing like the £15 million that has been rumoured,” she said.

“I am very happy that it has all been resolved because it means my future as an independent person is assured, and so is the future of our children.”

Montgomerie flew home from a golf tournament in Abu Dhabi a week ago to finalise the details and arrived back in the United Arab Emirates early yesterday looking much more cheerful. He was back on the golf course for a pro-am competition within hours of touching down in Dubai. He refused to answer questions on his divorce but said: “I’m here and you can see that I’m OK. You can see how I am.”

His manager, Guy Kinnings, said that an out-of-court settlement was reached early this week. “The details are between the parties. But it’s fair to say Colin is relieved. He’s relieved everything has been resolved. It’s been a pretty difficult time for him.”

Although there has recently been public antagonism between the estranged couple, Mr Kinnings said that their differences had been resolved amicably.

The 11-year marriage was ended in May 2004 by Mrs Montgomerie, who is said to have tired of her husband’s “obsession” with golf. Initially the split appeared to be friendly, if only for the sake of their four children, but by the beginning of last year it had become acrimonious, with much of their mutual hostility being played out in the gossip columns of newspapers.

Mrs Montgomerie cited “unreasonable behaviour” in divorce papers and complained that her husband’s obsession with golf had left her with “anxiety and depression”. While the golfer was described as boorish and selfish, his former wife was portrayed as a gold-digger scheming to rook him for everything he had.

Their antipathy deepened when each became romantically linked to other people. There was speculation that Mrs Montgomerie was seeing the actor Hugh Grant, while Montgomerie entered into a relationship with Inés Sastre, a Spanish model.

When the marital home in Oxshott, Surrey, was sold for £4.5 million there was a further bout of claim and counter-claim. He alleged that he had been banned from the home that she and the children had moved to. She hit back by saying that he refused to speak to her. As the row intensified, the golfer’s form slumped and observers speculated that his career might be at an end. In March last year at a tournament in Jakarta he was accused of a breach of golfing etiquette by replacing a stolen ball with one in a more advantageous position. After being shown footage of the incident he admitted to an “honest mistake” and donated his £24,000 prize money to charity.

Since then his performances have improved greatly and in October he won his eighth European tour title. By the year’s end he had earned £2 million in prize money — including £430,000 for finishing second to Tiger Woods at the Open Championship at St Andrews — and £3 million in sponsorship and endorsements.

His new happiness and form is partly because he began a relationship with a mother of two, Joanne Baldwin, whom he met on the school run. He said: “If I’m happy off the course, I have to bring that on to the golf course. I wasn’t happy before and that showed. When I made a bogey, it felt as if my whole world had collapsed. Now, when I drop a shot and walk to the next tee, I know I’m going to survive. I can handle mistakes again.”

SEVERANCE FEES

£100 million Estimated settlement between the Jersey-based construction tycoon Steve Bell and his ex-wife, Pamela.

£50 million Estimated settlement between Stephen Marks, the founder of French Connection, and his ex-wife, Alisa.

£29 million Sir Martin Sorrell, chief executive of communications company WPP, was ordered to pay in October 2005.

£28 million Sum paid by the businessman Mark Dixon to his wife of 17 years, Trudy. He was left with £360 million.

£20 million Estimate of the sum received by the former model Sally Croker-Poole from the Aga Khan in 1995.

£17 million Diana, Princess of Wales, was awarded £17 million in 1996, plus £350,000 to run her office.

£10.5 million Awarded to Lady Caroline Conran after her 33-year marriage to Sir Terence Conran ended in 1995.

£7 million Negotiated settlement between Nick Faldo and his ex-wife, Gill.

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