Rory McIlroy reaches out-of-court settlement with Horizon Sports

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/feb/04/rory-mcilroy-horizon-sports-settlement-out-of-court

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The multi-million pound legal case between Rory McIlroy and his former management firm, Horizon Sports, has been settled without going to a full eight-week court hearing.

The parties had been in court on Tuesday, when three swift adjournments – the last until 11am on Wednesday – illustrated a desire to conclude the two-year dispute without taking to the witness box. As talks reached their key point, McIlroy did not leave the court building until 9pm.

On Wednesday morning, a statement was issued on behalf of McIlroy and Horizon, which read: “The legal dispute between Rory McIlroy and Horizon Sports Management has been settled to the satisfaction of both parties who wish each other well for the future. The parties will be making no further comment.”

The settlement figure is believed to be in the region of £8m-£20m.

Paul Gallagher, McIlroy’s senior counsel, simultaneously told Dublin’s commercial court that the matter had been “resolved”.

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McIlroy was being sued by Horizon for breaking a contract that had been due to run until 2017. The golfer was in turn suing the Dublin-based firm, alleging his interests were not being properly looked after and that he had signed an “unconscionable” deal.

There had never been any denial of the fact that McIlroy would be the party to pay out, with the level of that payment the only matter up for genuine debate. Under Horizon’s guidance, McIlroy signed a $100m equipment contract with Nike.

Now that the case has been settled, McIlroy can return to his preparations for the Masters; his next tournament appearance is at the PGA Tour’s Honda Classic in late February.