Monty's wife seeks comfort with Hugh

He is a Hollywood star and one of Britain's most eligible bachelors. She is the glamorous wife of a famously grumpy golfer still searching for his first victory in a major.

Yesterday, it emerged that Hugh Grant and Eimear Montgomerie have become increasingly close as he comforts her over ongoing difficulties in her 14-year marriage to Colin.

They have been friends since 43-year-old Grant began partnering Montgomerie in pro-celebrity tournaments. And now that she needs support, the actor has proved to be the ideal person to turn to.

Mother- of- three Mrs Montgomerie, 34, is said to have shared her deepest problems with the Four Weddings and a Funeral star, telling him of her husband's misery over his erratic form.

The 40-year-old has amassed a £25million fortune and was once ranked number two in the world.

But he had failed to win a major despite 51 attempts and is currently ranked 42nd.

Last night, a friend of the Montgomeries said the friendship between Grant and Eimear had been the talk of the golf circuit for months.

'The Montgomeries have been having difficulties with their marriage and Hugh is proving a very good listener,' the friend said.

'Everyone knows he has been comforting Eimear. She's always

talked about him as being her favourite actor.'

The Montgomeries' marriage problems became known after they parted in 2001, with the golfer leaving the family's mansion in Oxshott, Surrey, to live alone in a flat in Chelsea.

He has since admitted in his autobiography that he spent his evenings of marital exile aimlessly roaming the streets of London in tears.

'I was neglecting my wife and family,' he said. 'I was caught up with what I was doing.'

The couple eventually got back together after receiving counselling.

But Montgomerie has yet to

return to peak form and raised eyebrows at the Masters in Augusta earlier this month when he stormed off the course, leaving his wife behind.

She made it known she was less than happy and it was some hours before they were reunited.

They then immediately went to Barbados, but friends are concerned things are not yet settled.

Law graduate Mrs Montgomerie, who abandoned hopes of a career to support her husband, has spoken publicly of the difficulties caused by golf.

She said: 'It was clear our marriage had broken down because of all the things to do with Colin's career.

'I needed support but Colin wasn't available to give me any.

'Even when he was back between tournaments, he was there only physically, never emotionally. Counselling taught us to communicate again.'

Yesterday, Mrs Montgomerie answered the intercom at her £2million home but refused to discuss her friendship with Grant.

Montgomerie is in China for a tournament. His agent said he would not be commenting on his client's personal life.

Grant could not be contacted for comment, but recently said he had no plans to take any girls back to his new bachelor home near Harrods in London.

He said: 'I play golf - and I'm

quite embarrassed to say I don't think of anything else.'

Last year, Grant and Montgomerie spoke enthusiastically about their flourishing friendship, with the actor insisting the golf star had greatly helped his game.

'Colin has been showing me where I'm going wrong,' he said.

'We've both got a psychotic, competitive element about us, so that should stand us in good stead.'

Playing alongside the golfer was, he said, 'the biggest treat of the year'.

Montgomerie said of Grant at the time: 'We get on splendidly. Hugh's very sociable. He's also very competitive - that makes two of us.' Earlier this year, Mrs Montgomerie said that with her children now all at school, she was speaking to contacts about picking up her career as a lawyer.

Grant is not the only man she has become close to in recent years.

She has also formed friendships with Gary Lineker and cricketer-turned-TV presenter Mark Nicholas.

Grant has failed to settle down since his 13-year relationship with Elizabeth Hurley ended and has frequently been pictured with beautiful women.

Among those he has publicly flirted with are Helena Bonham Carter and Sandra Bullock.