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Rory McIlroy’s enforced break shows his concern over Horizon dispute Rory McIlroy’s enforced break shows his concern over Horizon dispute
(35 minutes later)
Suddenly, this all seems very real. For months, the received wisdom has been that Rory McIlroy would be spared a Dublin court appearance in early 2015 by the kind of settlement which routinely arrives before the planned culmination of lucrative commercial cases. In September, when a judge all but ordered the legal parties of McIlroy and Horizon Sports Management to resolve this away from a courtroom, that sense was only heightened. Suddenly, this all seems very real. For months the received wisdom has been that Rory McIlroy would be spared a Dublin court appearance in early 2015 by the kind of settlement which routinely arrives before the planned culmination of lucrative commercial cases. In September, when a judge all but ordered the legal parties of McIlroy and Horizon Sports Management to resolve their dispute away from a courtroom, that sense was only heightened.
There may still be the kind of multimillion pound reconciliation which spares McIlroy from taking to the witness box in such high-profile fashion. On the steps of the court, perhaps. But for now, the unfortunate reality is that the world’s No1 golfer has seen his schedule meaningfully affected for the first time by the Horizon dispute. And that is wholly significant. There may still be the kind of multimillion pound reconciliation which spares McIlroy from taking to the witness box. On the steps of the court, perhaps. But for now, the unfortunate reality is that the world’s No1 golfer has seen his schedule affected for the first time by the Horizon dispute. And that is wholly significant.
Nobody at Horizon will be upset by Mcllroy’s shock withdrawal from the BMW Masters and WGC HSBC Champions events. In fact, those at the 25-year-old’s former management firm will probably take some satisfaction from McIlroy’s core business being affected by a case which has now been rumbling on for a year without resolution. The very fact that McIlroy will take an enforced break from golf paints the seriousness of this scenario in its true light. Nobody at Horizon will be upset by Mcllroy’s shock withdrawal from the BMW Masters and WGC HSBC Champions events. In fact, those at the 25-year-old’s former management firm will probably take some satisfaction from the Northern Irishman’s core business being affected by a case which has now been rumbling on for a year. The very fact that McIlroy will take an enforced break from golf illustrates the seriousness of this scenario.
It shows us McIlroy is concerned, after two days of mediation talks at the weekend failed to result in peace. It also tells us that certain people involved in the dispute want to take it all the way, despite the nastiness and detail which may emerge in a public forum. It shows us McIlroy is concerned, after two days of mediation talks at the weekend failed to result in peace. It also tells us that certain people involved in the dispute want to take it all the way, despite the nastiness and detail which may emerge at a public forum.
McIlroy plays his best when calmness forms the backdrop. That much has been evident throughout 2014; even the reversion back to single life seemed to place McIlroy in a state of mind which provided less distraction and hassle. You cannot be the finest golfer in the world without mental tranquility. McIlroy plays his best when calmness is the backdrop. That much has been evident throughout 2014; even the reversion to single life seemed to place him in a state of mind which provided less distraction and hassle. You cannot be the finest golfer in the world without mental tranquillity.
Now there is clear uncertainty over what the upcoming months will entail. McIlroy would routinely play in Abu Dhabi and Dubai to start the new year before crossing the Atlantic to appear at the Honda Classic. With a trial looming in February, or at the latest early March, his schedule cannot be mapped out any more with any great certainty. This would not be welcome in any year but with the opportunity to secure a grand slam of major titles at Augusta National in April at the summit of McIlroy’s priority list, there is added cause for anxiety. Now there is uncertainty over what the upcoming months will entail. McIlroy would routinely play in Abu Dhabi and Dubai to start the new year before crossing the Atlantic to appear at the Honda Classic. With a trial looming in February, or at the latest early March, his schedule cannot be mapped out with any great certainty. This would not be welcome in any year but with the opportunity to secure a grand slam of major titles at Augusta National in April at the summit of his priority list, there is added cause for anxiety.
The European Tour will be wounded by McIlroy’s failure to travel to the Far East. Earlier this month, the four-times major winner used these pages to speak of his desire to continually support the Tour which had played a part in kick-starting his career. McIlroy will return for the Race to Dubai’s final event in late November but, with Tiger Woods also out of the equation, the absence of McIlroy as a marquee figure in China will be keenly felt by organisers and sponsors alike. The European Tour will be wounded by McIlroy’s failure to travel to the Far East. This month the four-times major winner used these pages to speak of his desire to continually support the Tour which had kick-started his career. McIlroy will return for the Race to Dubai’s final event in late November but with Tiger Woods also out of the equation, the absence of McIlroy as a marquee figure in China will be keenly felt by organisers and sponsors alike.
It hardly needs to be pointed out that background acrimony exists here, with many of those attached to Horizon still particularly wounded by the events which saw McIlroy depart their stable after two years and subsequently set up his own management firm. When McIlroy speaks of a desire to put this affair behind him and move on, it must be recognised that nobody on the opposite side of the row is of a mind to make that easy for him. It hardly needs to be pointed out that background acrimony exists here, with many of those attached to Horizon still particularly wounded by the events which saw McIlroy depart after two years and subsequently set up his own management firm. When McIlroy speaks of a desire to put this affair behind him and move on, it must be recognised that nobody on the opposite side of the row is of a mind to make that easy for him.
This is at best a wholly unfortunate situation. McIlroy and Horizon should have been, and to all intents and purposes were, good for each other. The Northern Irishman’s meteoric rise always suggested he might outgrow the management firm but it is sad that the divorce has arrived, and continued, in such open and angry terms. McIlroy is looking to have his Horizon contract declared null and void, which is contested in the strongest terms – and by way of counter-suing – by the company which is in the closing stages of its deal with Graeme McDowell. Beyond that, it seems safe to infer that Horizon’s very future is uncertain.This is at best a wholly unfortunate situation. McIlroy and Horizon should have been, and to all intents and purposes were, good for each other. The Northern Irishman’s meteoric rise always suggested he might outgrow the management firm but it is sad that the divorce has arrived, and continued, in such open and angry terms. McIlroy is looking to have his Horizon contract declared null and void, which is contested in the strongest terms – and by way of counter-suing – by the company which is in the closing stages of its deal with Graeme McDowell. Beyond that, it seems safe to infer that Horizon’s very future is uncertain.
In his affidavit to the commercial court, Horizon’s co-founder and director Conor Ridge pointed to the “brand development platform” put in place for the “long-term benefit” of McIlroy. This, Ridge claimed, “played a significant role in the securing of his current portfolio of lucrative sponsorship agreements, the activation of which now forms the bedrock of his global brand value and marketability as an athlete.” These aren’t trivial sums; the same statement pointed towards McIlroy’s $100m Nike contract, $50m of which had been paid by September last year. In his affidavit to the commercial court, Horizon’s co-founder and director Conor Ridge pointed to the “brand-development platform” put in place for the “long-term benefit” of McIlroy. This, Ridge claimed, “played a significant role in the securing of his current portfolio of lucrative sponsorship agreements, the activation of which now forms the bedrock of his global brand value and marketability as an athlete.” These are not trivial sums; the same statement pointed towards McIlroy’s $100m Nike contract, $50m of which had been paid by September last year.
In many ways, they explain why this affair has landed at the offices of a courthouse in the first place. If the personal and professional impact of what has been taking place was not understood before, it surely has to be now; golf is a poorer place without McIlroy around, with the man himself similarly impacted by time away from his first love. In many ways, they explain why this affair has landed at the offices of a courthouse in the first place. If the personal and professional impact of what has been taking place was not understood before, it has to be now; golf is a poorer place without McIlroy around, with the man himself similarly impacted by time away from his first love.