McIlroy Admits Club Troubles

Rory McIlroy has finally admitted it took him far longer than expected to adjust to his new clubs after his much-publicised equipment change in early 2013.

The world No 1 signed a lucrative endorsement deal with Nike at the end of a successful 2012 campaign in which he won his second major at the PGA Championship and topped the world rankings as well as money lists on both the European and PGA Tours.

But his form took an alarming dip throughout the following year, although he was reluctant to blame his change of club manufacturer as he insisted issues off the course were primarily to blame as he tumbled out of the world's top 10.

The 25-year-old almost went through 2013 without a victory, but gave himself a huge confidence boost after snatching the Australian Open title ahead of Adam Scott in December.

McIlroy's win at Royal Sydney gave him momentum going into this year, and he enjoyed the best season of his career as he collected two majors, his first WGC title and firmly established himself as the best golfer on the planet.

"The Australian win at the end of a very lean 2013 was a welcome bit of form," said McIlroy after being named Sportsman of the Year by Reuters. "It was the coming together of some hard work on many aspects of my game and becoming completely comfortable with the club changes I'd made.

"I then had the confidence to get the job done. I'd say it was worth the wait to get things properly in place. The major wins were really a continuation of that process.

"And, of course, hugely important, satisfying and evidence that I could win majors when I had to dig deep, rather than by comfortable margins. But don't get me wrong. I've nothing against a comfortable margin."

McIlroy also believes his improved maturity and mental strength contributed largely to his remarkable form over the last 12 months, and he is looking forward to keeping his world No 1 status for some time to come.

"With my swing, clubs and fitness in place, I feel confident enough to go out and win"

"Two years on tour is quite a long time, even as a 25-year-old," he added. "I also think my game and mental approach are in many ways linked. With my swing, clubs and fitness in place, I feel confident enough to go out and win.

"Perhaps a lot of the maturity is just an extended learning curve, with each experience, good or bad, another lesson in patience, course management and knowing when, or when not, to take a risk."

As well as his individual success during the year, McIlroy also produced one of the greatest Ryder Cup performances in history in the singles at Gleneagles as he romped to a 5&4 victory over close friend Rickie Fowler.

'Confidence'

McIlroy raced out of the blocks with four birdies and an eagle over the first six holes, and Fowler had no answer to the all-round quality of the world No 1.

"That was really down to a confidence thing," McIlroy said. "I'd been playing really well, my swing was in great shape and I felt I knew what I needed to do to get a win on the board - get off to a fast start.

"The early birdies that day came as a result of some excellent driving, which effectively took any trouble out of the equation on the opening holes and allowed me relatively easy approaches.

"I thought that if I was well under par by the turn I would be difficult to catch."

Related articles

• Rory McIlroy named European Tour player of the year
• Rory McIlroy Is European Tour Golfer of the Year
• Rory McIlroy Has a New Girlfriend? Caroline Wozniacki Out, Sasha Gale In
• Rory McIlroy European Tour golfer of year
• Rory McIlroy is European Tour golfer of the year
• World No. 1 Rory McIlroy named European Tour player of the year for second time

McIlroy Lawyers on Horizon

Getty Images

Rory McIlroy is entitled to see documents concerning fellow golfer Graeme McDowell's involvement with a sports representation agency which Mr McIlroy is suing over a representation deal, a High Court judge has ruled.

Mr Justice Peter Kelly made the ruling when dealing yesterday with various pre-trial discovery applications in the action by Mr McIlroy challenging the validity and enforceability of representation agreements involving allegedly “unreasonable” fee rates and commissions.

The case, against Dublin-based Horizon Sports Management Ltd; Gurteen Limited, with a registered address in Malta, and Dublin-based Canovan Management Services, is listed for hearing from January 27 next.

Mr McIlroy disputes claims he had a representation agreement with Gurteen or Canovan rather than with Horizon.

He alleges a representation agreement signed by him in December 2011 is not valid and is unenforceable on grounds including alleged undue influence.

He alleges the agreement resulted in his paying more than US $6.8m based on “unreasonable” fee rates and the defendants are not entitled to be paid fees into the future related to his US$20m a year sponsorship deal with Nike.

Yesterday, Mr Justice Kelly also ruled that information from Mr McIlroy to the effect no data is available from various mobile phones held by him over a number of years, including a phone used by him while moving from one agency to another, should be put in a sworn statement.

While the defendants complained about the absence of data, and might criticise Mr McIlroy about this at trial, the court could do no more now than direct Mr McIlroy swear an affidavit concerning various phones and devices he had held, the judge said.

The judge also noted the court had been informed, because Mr McIlroy had not backed up his previous devices, no data on those could be retrieved.

The judge said he could not compel Mr McIlroy, as the defendants sought, to require his caddy JP Fitzgerald to produce any documents in Mr Fitzgerald's possession which may be relevant to the legal case.

It was open to the defendants to bring a non-party discovery motion seeking any such material from Mr Fitzgerald, he said.

Among some documents discovered were emails from businessman Dermot Desmond to Mr Fitzgerald, including an enclosure from Mr Desmond concerning legal advice, the court heard.

The court heard Mr McIlroy's claim of undue influence is based on grounds including alleged representations by Conor Ridge of Horizon he would get similar representation terms to Grame McDowell.

Mr Fanning said his client had relied on those representations which turned out to be untrue as his client's terms were significantly inferior to Mr McDowell's.

Mr McIlroy was also unaware, either when discussing the representation agreement with Conor Ridge in October 2011 or signing it, that Mr McDowell had a shareholding in Horizon.

Lawyers for the defendants previously told the court it was never represented to Mr McIlroy the terms to apply to him were identical to those of Mr McDowell. It was rather agreed the terms would be similar to those under an agreement with his former agent, International Sports Management (ISM), and he had indicated he was satisfied with that.

Ciarán Lewis BL, for the defendants, contended there was a "stark lack" of documents from Mr McIlroy in three categories crucial to his side, including documents leading up to Mr McIlroy signing a representation agreement in December 2011.

In court documents, Mr McIlroy insisted he had discovered what he could, that he rarely communicates in writing, had not backed up his phones and laptops and has no further documents.

His counsel Rossa Fanning BL said there was "nothing sinister" in Mr McIlroy regularly changing mobile phones and laptops. As a professional golfer in the public domain moving across different jurisdictions, Mr McIlroy has more reason than most to change his phone and having eight different handsets in a four year period was not unsual, he said.

Mr McIlroy should not be criticised because it was not anticipated a phone would be a source of "a battleground" in the Commercial Court.

The defendants are denying Mr McIlroy's claims and have counter-claimed for some US $3m dollars.

They alleged these are for outstanding off-course gross revenues and other sums allegedly outstanding under the December 2011 and a March 2013 agreement. They also seek damages for alleged past and continuing breaches of the agreements.

The judge ruled Mr McIlroy was entitled to all documents held by the defendants related to Mr McDowell's involvement with Horizon, including concerning Mr McDowells shareholding in that company.

Related articles

• Nike refuses to reveal details of Rory McIlroy sponsorship deal for lawsuit
• McIlroy wants challenge to commission rates heard in autumn
• Report: McDowell irked by McIlroy's lawsuit
• McIlroy's case against former management firm due to start
• McIlroy deal 'signed on party day'
• Rory McIlroy plays down tension with Graeme McDowell over legal battle

Oakley Off Horizon for McIlroy

Rory McIlroy has settled a legal dispute with his former sponsor, American sportswear company Oakley.

McIlroy did not disclose the terms of the settlement, which came about over his sponsorship switch to Nike in January.

That move prompted Oakley to launch legal action to try to retain its own deal, saying it had the right to match any improved agreement with another company.

"The legal claims brought by Oakley against Rory McIlroy in California have been amicably settled to the satisfaction of both parties," a statement released on behalf of McIlroy said.

"I am delighted the case is now behind me," McIlroy was quoted as saying.

He revealed earlier this month the legal worries had weighed on him this season and possibly contributed to his drop in performance.

In September, McIlroy terminated his contract with Dublin-based Horizon Sports Management to form his own management company - that split has also reached the courts.

This week McIlroy plays the Australian Open at Royal Sydney Golf Club.

Curse of the Nike Swoosh

Getty Images

Oscar Pistorius became the latest athlete in the Nike stable to be tainted by scandal. But Tiger Woods, Michael Vick, and Lance Armstrong are some of the biggest names in sports and all have one thing in common: Nike.

Manchester United's Wayne Rooney has also had his moments over recent years. But joins several other football stars sponsored by the firm who have been the subject of lurid headlines over the years - including Carlos Tevez, Cristiano Ronaldo, Franck Ribery, and Claude Makelele.

One would think that all the bad press would make Nike shy away from celebrity endorsements,  but the $25 billion corporation has done just the opposite.

Forbes senior editor Kurt Badenhausen, who covers the sports industry, says Nike is the victim of its own success. "Sticking by these big-name guys can potentially still be good for business," he said. "... Nike endorses so many athletes that if one of them does get in trouble, chances are, it's going to be a Nike guy."

Nike has $4 billion in endorsement contracts with athletes in many different sports, and the bigger the star, the less likely they are to sever ties.

Badenhausen said, "They've built a golf division from scratch with Tiger Woods. And now it's a $700-something-million business for Nike. It's hard to just kick Tiger to the side and say, 'We're done with you, we're going to move on now.' And I think that's why you saw them stick with Lance Armstrong for so long."

Even when Nike moves on from an athlete, it leaves the door slightly ajar. 

In 2007, Nike dumped NFL star Michael Vick in the midst of the dog fighting scandal, but they re-signed him when he regained his popularity in 2011.

Nike had decided to end a deal with the quarterback in 2007 under huge public pressure after he was jailed for bankrolling a dog-fighting ring discovered by police, who had raided his property in the Virginia countryside.

Vick's fall from grace cost him an estimated $100 million in lost salary and endorsements and his old club, the Atlanta Falcons, relinquished their rights to his contract after he was released from prison.

However, after restarting his career with the Philadelphia Eagles, Nike decided to resign Vick saying: "Michael acknowledges his past mistakes. We do not condone those actions, but we support the positive changes he has made to better himself off the field."

As has been well documented Nike ended their long-term relationship with the disgraced cyclist, Lance Armstrong, in October last year due to "seemingly insurmountable evidence" that he participated in doping, although they continue to support the Livestrong cancer charity that Armstrong was formally chairman of. Nike still sells a whopping 98 products in the US market that bares the Livestrong name.

When Tiger Woods was rocked by a sex scandal in 2009, Nike CEO Phil Knight said it was "part of the game" in signing endorsement deals with athletes. Woods admitted to infidelity in his marriage to Swedish wife Elin Nordegren as allegations of multiple extra-marital affairs rocked his life and career. Knight had said that Nike checked out Woods's background before signing its deal with the golfer and "he came out clean".

"I think he's (Tiger) been really great. When his career is over, you'll look back on these indiscretions as a minor blip, but the media is making a big deal out of it right now," said the Nike chief.

In 2003, the basketball star Kobe Bryant signed a five-year deal with Nike worth a reported $40m. Just days later, he was arrested in connection with an alleged sexual assault, as a 19-year-old woman accused him of rape.

The married Bryant admitted to sleeping with the girl but said the sex was consensual. The case was later dropped, but it certainly affected his brand.

A string of companies including McDonald's and Nutella terminated their deals with him, but Nike remained loyal, although they refused to use his image or market his shoe for two years until his brand recovered.

Now the company markets an entire 'Kobe Bryant collection.'

Marion Jones, the American sprinter endorsed the swoosh logo as she won five medals at the Sydney Olympics in 2000. However, Jones was stripped of her 100m, 200m and 4x400m golds and long jump and 4x100m bronze medals in 2007 for using banned drugs.

Jones even served a jail sentence for lying to federal prosecutors about her steroid use.

Nike were somewhat lucky when it came to Jones as her contract ran out in 2005, just when the scandal was blowing up. Needless to say, the company decided against renewing.

The sprinter Justin Gatlin won 100m gold in Athens 2004, but was later banned for four years for doping. He was the first athlete to have a contract terminated by Nike.

Gatlin has since returned to the sport, and he completed his comeback by clinching the bronze medal at the London Olympics. He also has deals with watch brand Deuce, and Chinese sportswear company Xtep.
Last month, golfer Rory McIlroy signed a $250m (£156m) 10-year deal with Nike, and has already appeared in an advertisement with Woods. The company was hoping that he would  not appear on a list similar to this one in the future.

But events at the PGA National on Friday when he walked off the course during The Honda Classic start to beg the question.

Related articles

• How FuelBand Could Help Solve Nike's Armstrong, Pistorius Problems
• Nike suspends endorsement deal with Oscar Pistorius
• No future plans for Pistorius - Nike
• Nike, Oakley move away from Oscar Pistorius
• Oscar Pistorius latest in long line of Nike endorsements that turned sour
• Nike dumps Oscar Pistorius in wake of Reeva Steenkamp death

Rory McIlroy Goes RMI

Getty Images

Rory McIlroy has ended months of speculation by confirming the termination of his contract with Horizon Sports Management.

He has confirmed the establishment of a new management company, which will be called Rory McIlroy Incorporated.

In a statement issued by issued by the Communications Clinic’s Terry Prone this afternoon, he said the details of the contract termination are “in the hands of a legal team led by A&L Goodbody” in Dublin.

McIlroy was in Dublin today for the announcement, which came through Twitter.

McIlroy had been with the Dublin-based management firm since leaving International Sports Management in October 2011.

From now on, the 24-year-old’s business interests will be managed by Rory McIlroy Incorporated (RMI), the statement confirmed.

The CEO of RMI will be Donal Casey, an actuary by profession with many years of CEO experience.

The Rory Foundation for charity will be run by Barry Funston, a business leader and longtime friend of the McIlroy family.

Both men will serve on the RMI Board, together with Gerry McIlroy, the golfer’s father.

Media relations for the Co Down player and his management company will be handled by a team from The Communications Clinic, headed by Terry Prone, according to the statement.

The double Major winner is following in the footsteps of US Masters champion Adam Scott, who set up his own company headed by his father, Phil, with a small group around him.

The suggestion that McIlroy was to leave Horizon first came to light earlier this year, but the golfer declined to comment at the time.

His decision to join Horizon in 2011 – leaving Chubby Chandler of International Sports Management just months after winning the US Open by eight shots – was in itself something of a surprise.

He had, however, a close relationship with Horizon’s Conor Ridge through his friendship with fellow golfer Graeme McDowell.

Last year McIlroy won the US PGA by a record eight shots – one of five wins that propelled him into the No 1 golfer slot in the world.

His successes on the course were matched by major sponsorship deals off it, including a massive link up with Nike Golf. 

However, the popular golfer has struggled to replicate last year’s form this year, and his relationship with tennis star Caroline Wozniacki has increasingly come under the spotlight.

Related articles

• Comeback McIlroy Fires 68
• Rory Drops and Henrik Rises
• Rory McIlroy is the double of One Direction singer Harry Styles, says Caroline Wozniacki
• Rory Labours Through Boston Storm
• Rory McIlroy and Caroline Wozniacki keep everyone guessing on split rumours
• Rory Confirms Trip Downunder

Sundays at The Medalist

Getty Images

Rory McIlroy has revealed he took on Tiger Woods in two private challenge matches on Sunday morning.

The world's top two golfers went head to head at the Medalist club in Hobe Sound, Florida, following their early exits from the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship.

"We thought we would play our own match play final except it was over 36 holes," said McIlroy ahead of this week's Honda Classic.

"We had two matches. He beat me the first time and I beat him in the second so we're even. We teed off at about 8:00 and I was home by 1:30 so we played quick.

"He putts with the pin in, it's speed golf. It was good, really enjoyable."

World No 1 McIlroy and American Woods have become friends in the past year, with the Northern Irishman now having a base near to the 14-times major winner in Florida and also having joined him in the Nike stable in January.

Related articles

• Not the Nike Clubs - McIlroy
• McIlroy and Woods in Treble
• McIlroy Plans to Just Do it
• Why Rory McIlroy Is Making a Mistake by Delaying His 2013 PGA Tour Debut
• Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy Face Off In Private Match
• McIlroy, Woods play own version of match play

Not the Nike Clubs - McIlroy

Getty Images

Rory McIlroy said his iron play let him down as suffered a first-round defeat at the World Matchplay Championship, but he denied his loss had anything to do with his switch to new Nike clubs.

Shane Lowry, an old friend of the Northern Irishman from their amateur days, defeated McIlroy 1-up with the aid of chip-ins at the 11th and 12th holes at Dove Mountain, and an eagle on the par-five 13th, where he hit a fairway wood from 258 yards to five feet.

"I didn't make enough birdies in the end," said McIlroy, who missed the cut at the European Tour event in Abu Dhabi last month in his only other start this season.

"Shane had a nice little stretch around part of the back nine. I hung in there, but I just didn't do enough."

While McIlroy bemoaned his iron play, he did not seem to think it had to do with his highly publicised switch to Nike equipment.

"I've just been missing a lot of them right.... I think it's more a timing thing than anything else," he said.

"I felt like I drew the ball really well," he added. "I hit the ball well off the tee. I just need to take advantage of the driving I've been doing."

While Lowry, the 64th-seed in the 64-man field, said he knew "deep down" that he could beat McIlroy, he admitted he was nervous playing the first few holes despite their friendship.

"It was much easier for me to play against Rory than it would have been playing against Tiger (Woods), purely because I just know Rory so well," said Lowry, who had dinner with McIlroy earlier in the week. "It was quite easy that way, but still quite nerve-wracking on the first tee."

Despite their friendship, there was little small talk as the match progressed.

"There wasn't that much chatter," McIlroy said. "We were kind of chatting the first few holes and then it was getting pretty tight around the turn, and the back nine there wasn't much talk out there."

Lowry added: "I tried to keep it that way. I said to my caddie, walking down 11 or 12, 'He's not liking this one bit.'

"He's the one under pressure, I've got nothing to lose, so let's have a go from here."

Moments after McIlroy's exit, Charles Howell III beat the second-seeded Woods on the 17th hole. Howell nearly holed a wedge for birdie on the 16th and made a 25-foot birdie on the 16th to seize control.

"I had nothing to lose," said Howell, who started the year outside the top 100 in the world and hasn't qualified for the World Matchplay in five years. "In this format, match play is crazy. He's Tiger Woods. I was lucky to hang in there."

The final matches were played in near darkness, and they could have stopped after 15 holes. Woods wanted to play on, even though Howell had the momentum. Woods was 2 under for the day, and neither of them made a bogey.

"We both played well," Woods said. "He made a couple of more birdies than I did. He played well, and he's advancing."

Related articles

• Lowry's Luck Spells Accenture
• McIlroy Plans to Just Do it
• Early exits for Tiger, McIlroy in WGC Match Play
• Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy Out After 1st Round of Match Play
• Tiger, Rory Both Fall In Match Play
• A 1-2 knockout: McIlroy, Woods lose in Match Play

New Clubs Not to Blame - McIlroy

Getty Images

Rory McIlroy insisted he, rather than his new clubs, were to blame for his poor performance at the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship.

The two-time major champion missed the cut by some distance in his first competitive outing of the season, shooting a second successive 75 on Friday to finish on six-over-par after 36 holes.

In the wake of his multi-million dollar switch to Nike, the change in clubs have been blamed for his form this week, but McIlroy insisted that was not the case.

"All aspects of my game were off," he told Sky Sports. "I didn't drive the ball well, my iron-play wasn't anywhere near the standard it usually is for me.

"I'm struggling with my swing a little bit, I feel like I'm spinning out of a lot and hitting it out of the heel quite a lot and I just need to put in a bit of work on the range.

"It's the first week out, I wouldn't look too much into that (the change of equipment), if anything it's more the Indian than the arrow at this point."

However, McIlroy - who will now have four weeks off - did concede that he was not happy with the driver he had been using this week and would be working hard to find a solution for an area that is normally such a strength of his game.

"I've got to work on a few things, I'm really happy with the irons and my ball and wedges, the putter's good on fast greens that I practice on," he continued.

"I just need to find a driver I feel comfortable with because I didn't drive the ball at all well and I feel like that's normally a big advantage for me."

The Northern Irishman also revealed that his decision to revert to his old putter on Friday was not a significant issue and would not necessarily mean he would continue to keep it in his bag.

"It was just for these greens this week," headded. "I felt like the greens were pretty slow out there and the Nike putter I used yesterday is a little lighter so it was just a weight issue more than anything else.

"I feel like the one I used today was a little heavier and I was able to get the ball to hole, but even when I got the ball to the hole it still didn't go in... so the change was to no avail!"

Related articles

• Woods, McIlroy miss cut at Abu Dhabi Championship
• Greek Goddess Putts Rory Out
• Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods Both Miss Cut in Abu Dhabi HSBC
• Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods both crash out in Abu Dhabi
• Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy miss cut at 2013 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship
• Here's The First Nike Ad With Rory McIlroy And Tiger Woods (NKE)