I take pride in being a developer who values the environment and heritage of this wonderful part of Wales

Sir Terry Matthews

The Celtic Manor beat off bids from five Scottish venues and one in northern England, to land the Ryder Cup 2010 tournament.

The businessman's solicitor Guy Martin told the judge that the article, headlines Otter Madness was defamatory and caused distress.

Following the ruling, Sir Terry said he was "very pleased" with the outcome, as he had protected his reputation.

"I take pride in being a developer who values the environment and heritage of this wonderful part of Wales," said Sir Terry.

The offending article appeared in the Sunday Mail on 3 June 2001.

"It alleged that, in pursuit of the profits to be made from developing Celtic Manor in preparation for the Ryder Cup, Sir Terence was more than happy to wipe out a colony of rare otters," said Mr Martin.

"It also alleged his plans would mean the course extended into land designated as a special area of conservation, and that the works probably would damage ancient Roman remains."

Public apology

Mr Adam Wolanski, counsel for the defendant, told Mr Justice Gray that publishers Scottish Daily Record and Sunday Mail Ltd, "apologises to Sir Terence for the false allegations it published and undertakes never to repeat them".

The article claimed a course expansion would kill off an otter colony

The Celtic Manor beat off bids from five Scottish venues and one in northern England, to land the Ryder Cup 2010 tournament.

After the decision to hold the 2010 Ryder Cup in south Wales, there was bitterness from SNP and Scottish conservative politicians, who argued that commercial interests influenced the selection process.

The complaints came even despite an announcement at the same time that the competition will be held in Scotland in 2014.

But in 2010, the Ryder Cup, the third biggest sporting event in the world, will follow the 1999 Rugby World Cup, the FA Cup and the Worthington Cup finals to take place in Wales.