Rory McIlroy has ended his association with management company International Sports Management and Chubby Chandler.
US Open champ leaves ISM for Horizon Sports Management
Rory McIlroy has ended his association with management company International Sports Management and Andrew 'Chubby' Chandler.
The 22-year-old, golf's brightest young talent and current world number three, had been with Chandler's company from the time he turned professional in 2007 but has now joined Horizon Sports Management which also boasts his fellow Northern Irishman Graeme McDowell.
McIlroy leaves a stable which includes Open hero Darren Clarke, Masters champion Charl Schwartzel and world number two Lee Westwood.
The announcement came just days after McIlroy competed against Clarke, Schwartzel and US PGA champion Keegan Bradley at the PGA Grand Slam of Golf in Bermuda.
He led that event by three shots with 12 holes to play, but fell away to a 75 and to third place three behind Schwartzel and four behind winner Bradley.
Onwards and upwards
Chandler said: "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.
"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."
For his part, McIlroy said: "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."
The Northern Irishman is currently heading to China for next week's Shanghai Masters which offers golf's richest first prize of £1.25million despite not being part of any official tour.
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.
US breakthrough
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.
Disappointing finishes of 25th and 64th followed in the last two majors of the season, although at the USPGA Championship he did well to make the cut after injuring his arm hitting a tree root.
By then the youngster was also making headlines off the course, ending a relationship with his long-time girlfriend and starting to date world tennis number one Caroline Wozniacki.
McIlroy, who has come third, third and second in his last three European Tour events, also announced that he would be rejoining the PGA Tour next season.
