Golf:World number three and US Open champion Rory McIlroy has ended his association with manager Andrew 'Chubby' Chandler and opted to join up with Graeme McDowell under the guidance of Horizon Sports Management. The 22-year-old Northern Irishman had been with International Sports Management (ISM) from the time he turned professional in 2007.
Chandler also handles the careers of world number two Lee Westwood, Open champion Darren Clarke, Masters champion Charl Schwartzel and three-time major winner Ernie Els.
The split was announced two days after McIlroy competed against Clarke, Schwartzel and US PGA champion Keegan Bradley at the PGA Grand Slam of Golf in Bermuda. He led by three with 12 holes to play, but fell away to a 75 and to third place three behind Schwartzel and four behind winner Bradley.
"Rory McIlroy has announced today, Friday October 21st, 2011, his decision to end his association with International Sports Management (ISM)," a statement read this afternoon. "He has also announced that he has joined Horizon Sports Management.
McIlroy added: “I would like to sincerely thank Andrew ‘Chubby’ Chandler and his team for their guidance, representation, and management over the past four years, since turning pro.
Chubby and his team have played a very important role in my success to date.
I have made great progress under their management and for that I will always be grateful.
“I am now keen to move onto the next stage of my career and I feel this will be facilitated by a fresh view and a new structure around me. Therefore I am delighted to be joining Horizon and I look forward to working with my new team.”
Earlier today, Chandler responded to news he was losing McIlroy, saying: “Onward and upwards. We have had a quite brilliant year. The company is growing and adapting to ensure it stays at the forefront of golf and the business of managing players. We wish Rory every success.”
The statement also said: “It has been an honour representing Rory and we take great pride in the role ISM has played in guiding him successfully through his formative years as a professional golfer.
“Under our management he has grown into an international figure and he leaves us as a major champion. ISM prides itself on putting the athlete first. In golf this has enabled our players to achieve unprecedented success with Rory joining Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel and Darren Clarke as a major winner and Lee Westwood at the summit of the world rankings.
“ISM continues to go from strength to strength, its dedicated team of professionals providing our clients with world-class support across the globe. We look forward to even more success in the years ahead.”
McIlroy travelled to Bermuda from China and is heading back there for next week’s Shanghai Masters. Chandler has been at McIlroy’s side since he joined the paid ranks after winning the silver medal as leading amateur in The Open at Carnoustie four years ago.
As an 18-year-old, he finished third in the Dunhill Links Championship on only his second start, then fourth next time out at the Madrid Masters, but had to wait until the 2009 Dubai Desert Classic for his first victory.
Last season he broke through on the PGA Tour in America, winning the Quail Hollow Championship with a closing 62 two days before his 21st birthday, and then began The Open at St Andrews with a major record-equalling 63.
An 80 followed in windy conditions but, after third-place finishes there and at the USPGA Championship, he found himself centre stage again at The Masters this April.
Three brilliant opening rounds put him four clear, but he then collapsed to a closing 80 and in a traumatic turnaround dropped all the way back to 15th place, 10 strokes behind Schwartzel.
Many wondered how long he would carry the scars of that, but then came the US Open at Congressional near Washington, where he broke record after record in winning by eight with a 16-under-par total.
