How did it come to this? You would actually need page space more routinely reserved for a phonebook to chronicle the multitude of issues between Rory McIlroy and his former management firm, Horizon, in order to detail what has brought them to this juncture. That is, days away from what could prove to be one of the highest-profile court cases in sporting history.
In normal circumstances, there would be an expectation that such a dispute would be resolved – perhaps immediately – before appearances have to be made in a witness box. That may yet happen, in sparing McIlroy the natural discomfort of his personal and financial affairs being laid out to an eager worldwide audience and the kind of uncomfortable probing which top lawyers specialise in. McIlroy is a brilliant public speaker but this is another movie entirely.
If a settlement is reached before Tuesday, when Dublin court proceedings are scheduled to start, it would be the best resolution for all concerned.
Lawyers will readily confirm that personal grievances are not a suitable or wise motivation for courtroom battles when an alternative settlement is available. That group has already done pretty well from this spat, with speculation at the turn of the year of fees between the parties reaching €4m (£2.9m). One hopes the serious movements now are to avoid, rather than accept, court. Life has to move on at some point.
Golf as a whole would be a better place if a full public slanging match is averted. There are two reasons for that; the first relating to the potential impact on the sport’s best player ahead of a Masters tilt, added to what knock-on effect legal rulings could have for commercial contracts and agency deals going forward. The landscape could change, not necessarily for the better.
In short, McIlroy believes his interests were not best served by his deal with Horizon. He, in turn, is being sued for breach of contract and loss of earnings – actual and potential – by the firm who were in charge of McIlroy when he signed, among other things, a $100m Nike deal.
There are some staggering figures and details already in the public domain. Horizon put an estimate of $129m on McIlroy’s off-course earnings alone during a five-year stretch. McIlroy took serious umbrage to a $166,000 payment being made to the charity Unicef without his permission in March 2013. Horizon’s legal team have stated in response that as soon as McIlroy “expressed dissatisfaction with the donation the transaction was reversed”. Still, it remains a key issue.
McIlroy’s reaction to this affair so far has been remarkable. The background noise of legal proceedings and bad feeling has been rumbling on for months and months, with apparently no impact whatsoever on the world No1 and four-times major winner’s professional pursuits. That much is of credit to those around McIlroy and to the ability of the man himself to compartmentalise aspects of his life.
When the Northern Irishman was asked recently in Abu Dhabi if this issue was a distraction or worry, his response could hardly have been more calm. A shrug of the shoulders, a message of “I’ll be OK” and an illustration either of the best acting performance of all time or the genuine belief that this 25-year-old has nothing to concern himself with. That, in itself, was very telling.
Notably, McIlroy has also been careful never to belittle or discredit Horizon during public discussion. On Wednesday in Dubai, McIlroy did express a wish for this issue to be over with but still was far from an anxious character during the discussion.
The oft-used sentiment around this case is to suggest McIlroy is worth so much that handing a few million pounds, even tens of them, over to his former managers won’t matter in the grand scheme of life. For all that may be true, it would be basic human instinct to object to writing a cheque out to someone with whom your relationship had broken down. And it has; there are strong elements of personal grievance throughout this case which render it so unfortunate.
In McIlroy, Horizon had one of the most marketable young sportspeople on the planet, in an industry which thankfully has not been tainted by corruption and scandal. The firm benefited, without doubt, from an association with the golfer just as McIlroy moved on to a new commercial level. Looking back, and in the context of McIlroy’s career progression, some form of subsequent split was always likely. The issue is when, and how, it arrived.
On a basic human level, it is sad that matters have regressed quite as far and acrimoniously, regardless of the raw figures at stake. It is hoped a late intervention can occur; avoidance of the alternative should be the prevalent sentiment in the minds of all parties.
Getting their just desert
One of the best aspects about the development of the HSBC Abu Dhabi Championship has been the notable improvement in crowds over recent years. Especially so, that is, on Friday and Saturday or the “traditional” weekend in the Middle East.
There must, then, be a case for the three events on this desert swing following on from the Qatar Masters; by playing from Wednesday to Saturday. Players, presumably, would not have a strong aversion to three events in a row with the same format.
Television would be a key component in any such debate, given the usefulness for meaningful Sunday morning live coverage in the UK particularly, but the overall spectacle is better when more fans are on the course. As a basic rule, it is surely a smart move to play when local interest is spiked.
If Qatar can do it, so too can Abu Dhabi and Dubai on the surrounding weeks. Those behind the events are forward-thinking enough to have considered such a move already.
Gallacher’s US drive
A criticism of Colin Montgomerie, when the Scot was a dominant figure in European golf, related to an unwillingness to compete as routine in the United States. Montgomerie’s detractors insisted he was in a comfort zone, if one which probably intensified by an aversion to flying. Montgomerie could reasonably reply that Europe was treating him perfectly well, thank you very much.
Still, it was heartening to hear Montgomerie’s compatriot, Stephen Gallacher, speak this week of an ongoing desire to test himself against the best players in the game. Now 34th in the world, a top 10 spot in the rankings should be the next target for a player whose results have improved markedly with age.
Gallacher will take what opportunities he can to feature on the PGA Tour this season, even if it requires invitations, which is a clear demonstration of ambition. He deserves credit for that.
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