McIlroy bows out of pair of China events to prepare for trial
Rory McIlroy has withdrawn from the BMW Masters and WGC-HSBC Champions, citing the need to prepare for an upcoming trial in his lawsuit against his former agent.
"I'm going to need time away from tournament golf to prepare for the trial over my legal dispute with Horizon Sports Management," McIlroy said Monday, accoridng to the Irish Independent.
McIlroy split with, then sued Dublin-based Horizon Sports Management in late 2013, saying the company locked up the world No. 1 in 2011 with unfair contract terms, including fees McIlroy deemed unreasonable. McIlroy agreed to a contract extension in 2013 with revised terms and lower commissions on off-course earnings but reversed course later in the year. He now represents himself in a company called Rory McIlroy Inc.
Horizon, led by Conor Ridge, has countersued McIlroy, looking to recover commissions for deals it arranged with Nike, Bose and Omega, as well damage to its reputation.
In September, an Irish Commercial Court judge recommended mediation between the parties when McIlroy's lawyers made a motion seeking detailed documentation about friend Graeme McDowell's relationship with Horizon Sports. (It's also the source of Phil Mickelson's Ryder Cup joke about litigating against teammates.) McDowell, who essentially recruited McIlroy to join him under the Horizon banner, announced last month an amicable split from Horizon set to happen at the end of the year.
McIlroy and his lawyers met Horizon representatives in Dublin for mediation this past weekend, but told the court Monday they had failed to reach a settlement that would avoid a trial, according to The Telegraph.
The reigning Open and PGA champion may have to jettison more previously scheduled events in 2015, as well. With a trial set for early 2015 and McIlroy expected to spend up to two weeks giving testimony, he may have to cancel planned starts in the European Tour's two-event swing through the United Arab Emirates in the second half of January.
Preparation will be crucial for McIlroy, who will look to complete the career grand slam with a Masters win next April.
Ryan Ballengee is a Yahoo Sports contributor. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.
