In what has already been a year of transition, a source told Golf Channel that Rory McIlroy is making another change.
The world No. 2 is leaving Horizon Sports Management and manager Conor Ridge to form his own company that will internalize all of his own business affairs. The source says that McIlroy’s new company will include family and friends, and his father Gerry is expected to take an active role.
The Irish Independent first reported the news.
The Northern Irishman joined the Dublin-based Horizon – which also represents Graeme McDowell, Shane Lowry and Ross Fisher, among others – after leaving Chubby Chandler’s International Sports Management in October 2011. He had been with ISM since turning pro in 2007.
Timeline: Big moments since McIlroy turned professional
After a five-win season that included earning Player of the Year honors on both sides of the pond, McIlroy and Acushnet Co. (Titleist/FootJoy) did not renew their contract last fall and instead McIlroy signed a lucrative deal with Nike. Last month, he also inked a new sponsorship deal with Omega watches and earlier this year signed with Bose.
“We cannot make any comment,” Ridge said in an email to The Associated Press.
McIlroy, 24, has yet to win this season, but he’s finished in the top 10 in three of his last four starts. He is scheduled to play next week’s BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.