Wentworth match-up reaches the final hole

The battle for control of Wentworth, the world-famous golf club, will reach a climax this week after a £100m bid from the entrepreneur Richard Caring was accepted by the majority shareholder.

The battle for control of Wentworth, the world-famous golf club, will reach a climax this week after a £100m bid from the entrepreneur Richard Caring was accepted by the majority shareholder.

Elliot Bernerd, the property tycoon whose private group Chelsfield owns 60 per cent of the club, signed an agreement to back Mr Caring's bid on Friday. Other shareholders will receive a letter from Mr Bernerd this week recommending they also support Mr Caring's bid unless another party comes in with £110m or more for the private-owned club.

After the signing, a higher bid was received. Sean Quinn, who made his fortune in supplying building materials, offered £102m, which Mr Bernerd turned down. It is thought many of the other shareholders - including Eddy Shah, the former newspaper magnate - want to take the highest offer.

A spokeswoman for Mr Bernerd denied reports there was a row with Mr Shah or other shareholders. She said the sale had dragged on for months and Mr Bernerd felt that unless a significantly better offer was received he wanted to stick by his deal with Mr Caring, a clothing supplier who is close to the retailing billionaire Philip Green.