Sports

No end in sight for McIlroy’s frustrating 2013 season

Court case begins over golfer’s management split.

Reuters October 15, 2013

McIlroy has suffered a torrid 2013, losing out his world number one ranking to Tiger Woods and breaking up with his management company. PHOTO: AFP

LONDON: Rory McIlroy’s messy break-up with management company Horizon Sports reached a Dublin court but reports that the former golf world number one’s relationship with tennis player Caroline Wozniacki was on the rocks appeared wide of the mark.

The reasons for the 24-year-old’s decision to part company with Horizon remain unknown but media reports said the golfer was unhappy with the commission the Dublin firm was charging for its services.

Horizon said it was disappointed McIlroy had ended a contract that had a number of years left to run.

“Since October 2011 Horizon has achieved exceptional results for Rory in realising his commercial objectives,” said the company in a statement.

“Under Horizon’s management Rory has signed some of the most lucrative endorsements in sports history.”

McIlroy started the year on top of the world. He was number one in the rankings and in January signed a 10-year contract with club manufacturers Nike that, according to media reports, is worth $250 million.

However, it has been downhill all the way since then as he slipped to number six in the world and failed to win a tournament this season.

There were also media reports saying that the twice major winner had ended his two-year relationship with Wozniacki, but the Dane dismissed the stories as ‘rumours’ and called on the media to end the speculation about the relationship.

“I’m so tired of the rumours,” the former world number one told Danish newspaper Ekstra Bladet.

“They occur every time Rory and I are apart a few days or do not write on Twitter.

“There is nothing in it, and from now on I just think that I will keep my private life private. It is so annoying that the media and the so-called sources constantly spread the rumours. They write just what they want.”

Wozniacki, who has slipped in the world rankings, said: “All is well with the relationship. I just want to be allowed to live my life off the court without all the speculation.”

Published in The Express Tribune, October 16^th, 2013.

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