A disappointed Graeme McDowell has confirmed close friend and fellow US Open champion, Rory McIlroy is set to split with their Irish-based management company and organise his own business affairs.
McDowell lifted the lid on McIlroy parting company with Horizon Sports Management soon after winning through to the last 16 in the Volvo World Match-Play Championship in Bulgaria.
While McIlroy’s departure has not been officially confirmed by his management company of some 18 months, McDowell admitted he knows enough that he will now see less of the double Major winner and former management stable-mate.
It was McDowell’s long-time friendship that helped steer McIlroy in October 2011 to the Dublin-based Horizon Sports Management, then a relatively small fish in the ocean of management giants.
“Management is a funny thing and when things are maybe not going 100% on the golf course, it is natural to question everything you are doing from relationships, business and just everything you do,” said McDowell.
Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy still good friends but no longer management stablemates. (Photo – www.golffile.ie)
“Sometimes we decide to make choices and decisions, and take new paths that we perhaps feel like for the bigger picture will help us improve and get better.
“Rory has made a decision about his management structure and for whatever reason. I don’t know the reasons because I haven’t seen much of him the last few months, as our schedules have been different.
“But it’s just one of those things, and you only have to look at the last 18 months and the job Horizons have done for Rory. He’s had a phenomenal 18 months signing the biggest deal in golf at the end of last year.
“Business-wise Rory’s in the best shape he’s ever been in his life and while he has struggled with his golf the early part of this season for whatever reason, and I am sure the management company weren’t giving him golf lessons or caddying for him or telling him how to play golf. That’s kind of his own deal.
“But when we are not on our game we have a tendency to, and I am not going to say make wrong decisions, but we do question everything in our lives what we are doing and sometimes we have to make changes.
“Rory’s decision is a fairly amicable break up and Rory just wants to do his own thing and surround himself with his family. That’s fair enough.
“But it’s disappointing as I am disappointed to lose him as a management stable-mate but we will go forward still very good friends.”
Ridge has declined returning text messages, phone calls or emails for several weeks, and long before an Irish newspaper hinted on Friday of a split.
“We simply do not comment on industry rumours or speculation”, said Ridge.
“Horizon Sports Management always has and always will give first priority to the confidentially of its clients.”
The Northern Ireland duo of Gareth Maybin and Michael Hoey left Horizon last year for the same reason McIlroy walked out in October 2011 on the UK-based International Sports Management, and run by former Tour player, Andrew ‘Chubby’ Chandler.
McIlroy’s father, Gerry is expected to take over the running of McIlroy’s affairs in addition to being the Chairman of the Rory McIlroy Foundation while close friends will also be employed to work exclusively for the 24-year old.
But what surprises McDowell is what also surprised Chandler, and that is what more could Horizons have done for McIlroy?
“As far as my relationship with Horizon Sports is concerned, they have done a phenomenal job for me the last five to six years, and it’s pretty tough to look at Rory’s scenario and say they’ve (Horizons) done a bad job,” said McDowell.
“He’s won a second Major last year to go to Number One in the world and life seems to be good but you never know.
“I’ve been through much the same situation as Rory before I signed with Horizons but when the stakes are high, and the pressure is on the old caddy and coaches are first to go.
“I guess management companies are not too far down that pecking order as far as the first ones to go. It’s a fickle sport to be honest but from what I hear it’s a fairly amicable decision all way round.”
In the short 18 months McIlroy has been under the Horizons umbrella he captured a second Major Championship in winning the 2012 PGA Championship that also saw him move to No. 1 in the world.
McIlroy also won three other PGA Tour events along with capturing the European Tour season-ending DP World Tour Championship last November in Dubai.
Added to his list of victories was also defeating Tiger Woods head-to-head in an exhibition match in China.
McIlroy also ended 2012 as the leading money winner on both the PGA Tour and European Tour.
Weeks later, and under the guidance of Horizons, McIlroy became one of the richest sports stars on the planet in signing a reputed $225m deal with sports giant, Nike.
New deals were struck also earlier this year with Swiss watch-making giant, Omega and Bose.
His contracts and earnings has placed McIlroy, according to Sports Illustrated, as the third richest active golfer with only Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson having earned more in the last 10 months.
From July 1st, 2012 to April 21st 2013 McIlroy’s earnings were estimated by the magazine at $33.336m compared to Woods $40.839m and Mickelson with earnings in the period of $33.528m.
McIlroy is currently in Rome with girlfriend, Caroline Wozniacki and will next compete at next week’s European Tour flagship, BMW PGA Championship.
