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Kenny Smith

McIlroy taking time away from golf to prepare for legal battle

The world number one won’t play in the BMW Masters or the WGC – HSBC Champions after ‘an extraordinarily demanding year’.

RORY MCILROY HAS announced that he will take a break from golf to prepare for the upcoming trial with his former management company.

The Irish golfer, currently ranked number one in the world, is making a change to his playing schedule after what he has described as “an extraordinarily demanding year”.

McIlroy is suing former agents Horizon Sports Management in a dispute over fees, with a full hearing to take place next year after an agreement wasn’t reached during a mediation process in Dublin’s Commercial Court today.

McIlroy will not participate in the BMW Masters (October 30) or the WGC – HSBC Champions (November 3), both being held in China, meaning the next event he will be involved in is Dubai’s DP World Tour Championship in late November.

“I’m going to need time away from tournament golf to prepare for the trial over my legal dispute with Horizon Sports Management,” Rory said in a statement released this evening.

“The court-directed mediation process failed over the weekend to resolve the issue.”

First published, 20 October, 7.35pm

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27 Comments
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    Mute Darren Sweeney
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    Oct 20th 2014, 8:27 PM

    Should have brought it to the Fore courts!

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    Mute Shane Walsh
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    Oct 20th 2014, 9:13 PM

    “Tee” Hee Hee

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    Mute stephen
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    Oct 20th 2014, 7:56 PM

    An extraordinary demanding year? These guys really do live a bubble, my heart bleeds for him.

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    Mute Celticspirit321
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    Oct 20th 2014, 8:12 PM

    Everton?!!

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    Mute Mickey finn
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    Oct 20th 2014, 8:14 PM

    Every fcuker begging and taking from you constantly must be a drain

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    Mute James Connely
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    Oct 20th 2014, 8:42 PM

    Do you think it’s easy being a professional sports player? Then why isn’t everyone doing it? It takes a huge amount of commitment and focus not to mention skill.

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    Mute Paul Dunne
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    Oct 20th 2014, 9:27 PM

    and that’s why not everyone is doing it.

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    Mute neeneee
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    Oct 20th 2014, 9:31 PM

    No to mention the haters

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    Mute Bruce
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    Oct 20th 2014, 10:20 PM

    There will be a couple of disgruntled sponsors.

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    Mute Kane Abel
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    Oct 20th 2014, 8:18 PM

    Hard work dumping your fiancee over the phone days after the wedding invitations have been posted, then claiming at the age of 22 years you aren’t man enough to enter into legal agreements…..

    Seriously if you hid his golf clubs this fool would be like every other annoying kid hanging around in a stupid looking baseball cap.

    Grow up you waste of space!!!

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    Mute Alexoz
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    Oct 20th 2014, 8:29 PM

    Jealous!!! Go earn your life in golf if you have… Balls…;)

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    Mute Paul Coyle
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    Oct 20th 2014, 11:37 PM

    Jealous?

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    Mute andrew
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    Oct 20th 2014, 11:45 PM

    I think he is at least being consistent. Golf is his job. He works for Nike. Money is clearly his main focus. Why wouldn’t he follow it. But I do agree that the Nike hat does make him look a bit of a twxt even if it does tell us what he is actually all about

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    Mute Kane Abel
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    Oct 21st 2014, 11:41 AM

    In fairness – I didn’t ask about his financial outlook – I just pointed out that he is a w^nker….

    And no I’m not jealous, people like Rory spend their lives surrounded by leeches, once his last cent its spent he’ll have nobody genuine within a mile of him, including his next guess at a suitable (also money driven) wife…..

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    Mute Paul Dunne
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    Oct 21st 2014, 12:31 PM

    stupid comment grow up.

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    Mute Patrick Monks
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    Oct 20th 2014, 8:38 PM

    He should bring two pairs of trouser with him to court, in case he gets a hole in one

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    Mute John Hayes
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    Oct 20th 2014, 10:33 PM

    I’m not gonna bother ‘chipping’ in ye have a ‘fairway’ to go though.

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    Mute Roy Dowling
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    Oct 20th 2014, 8:59 PM

    How is this news?

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    Mute Mike O Neill
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    Oct 20th 2014, 9:32 PM

    Please post your mobile number so all news outlets can ring you and check what constitutes news.

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    Mute E Connolly
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    Oct 20th 2014, 10:42 PM

    World’s no 1 golfer pulls out of 2 high profile events to prepare for legal battle with ex agency. Sounds pretty (sports) news worthy to me. Nothing comment.

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    Mute Patrick Monks
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    Oct 20th 2014, 9:02 PM

    He should bring two pairs of trousers with him to court, in case he gets a hole in one

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    Mute Zozzy Zozimus
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    Oct 20th 2014, 9:55 PM

    You should bring two jokes to the journal in case you double bogey.

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    Mute ChocSaltyBallz
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    Oct 20th 2014, 11:46 PM

    I say take no Shizuoka from nobody
    You put it to em Rory
    Now there is a man growing up and prepared for to fight his corner the athlete is always bigger

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    Mute Michael Gorman
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    Oct 21st 2014, 9:11 AM

    He needs a ‘wedge’ out of the trouble he’s in and drive on!

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    Mute r keane
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    Oct 21st 2014, 10:30 AM

    Must be a serious amount to give up a shot at the prize money in those tournaments…

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    Mute Gary Mason
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    Oct 21st 2014, 11:31 AM

    He should be playing every tournament possible

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    Mute James Kelly
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    Oct 21st 2014, 3:23 PM

    He brought the action and it’s now set for trial so its in his own interests to prepare for what, for him, will be an experience way way way out his comfort zone or past experience. His opponents are not going to be fellow club able golfers but hard nosed, switched on lawyers at the very top of THEIR game. The game is played by THEIR rules not those of the R&A and no one will be conceding any holes. In short, its a fight to the death as presumably for McElroy its a “point of principle”. Given that the action failed to settle following mediation indicates both sides are very far apart and probably entrenched in their respective positions so its game on and it won’t necessarily be the best man that wins. I’m intrigued by the alleged juxtaposition of the defendant company and one of its alleged directors and golfing buddy of the plaintiff!!!!

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