Double Major winning Rory McIlroy looks set to split with his management company and just do it on his own in managing his business affairs.
This is according to a report in today’s (FRID) Irish Independent with McIlroy’s father, Gerry expected to head the company.
McIlroy stunned the golf world late in 2011 when he split from the UK-based International Sports Management (ISM) in favour of joining good friend and fellow US Open champion, Graeme McDowell with the Dublin-bases Horizon Sports Management.
Double Major winning Rory McIlroy rumoured to be close to splitting from Conor Ridge’s Horizon Sports Management.
Under Horizon Sports McIlroy captured a second Major Championship in winning last year’s PGA Championship along with three other PGA Tour titles and the European Tour season-ending DP World Tour Championship.
McIlroy’s success last year resulted in him finishing 2012 as Number One on both the PGA Tour and European Tour money list.
He also went to No. 1 in the world as a Horizon client and played in a second straight winning European Ryder Cup team.
Earlier this year, and through the work of Horizon, McIlroy signed one of the biggest sporting deals ever in deal reputedly worth $225m with Nike.
McIlroy is believed to have understood to have signed a five-year deal with Horizons and if he were to leave now there could easily be a legal wrangle given McIlroy still has more than three years of the contract to run.
According to the Irish Independent, Conor Ridge, CEO with Horizon Sports declined to comment on suggestions McIlroy was leaving the company.
“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 confidentiality of its clients.”
McIlroy also dismissed suggestions at last week’s Players Championship in Florida and stating he was still a Horizon Sports client.
And suggestions the current World No. 2 will team up with now good friend and World No. 1 have also been ruled out according to the article while talk he will join Legardere, and the company looking after the affairs of girlfriend, Caroline Wozniacki seem also untrue.
It seems the 24-year old McIlroy will follow the lead of Woods and other leading sports stars such as tennis legend Roger Federer and footballing superstar Lionel Messi and simply be his own manager.
And if true, it would make sense Gerry McIlroy heading the new business arrangement given he is also currently chairman of his son’s Rory McIlroy Foundation.
