Rory McIlroy absent as Horizon side celebrates settlement

Having had a day in court in Dublin on Tuesday, Rory McIlroy clearly decided one day was enough and he was not present when the bitter multimillion euro dispute with his former management company ended in a 37-second hearing.

The out-of-court settlement reached overnight in the legal dispute between him and Horizon Sports Management is thought to have left Horizon about $25 million (€21.8 million) better off.

While neither McIlroy’s representatives nor Horizon sources would budge when asked the size of the settlement, it is thought to consist of three streams claimed by Horizon – fees owing since McIlroy stopped paying the company commission in April 2013; loss of fees between now and the end of his contract with Horizon in 2017; and general damages in respect of opportunities foregone and reputation.

The world’s best golfer obviously reckoned he had better things to be doing on Wednesday than sitting in the High Court when it was announced all matters in the case had been resolved. It ended an almost two-year-long fight between McIlroy and Conor Ridge, founder and chief executive of Horizon.

After the two parties had negotiated well into Tuesday evening, Paul Gallagher SC for McIlroy thanked the court for the time allowed to come to an accommodation and informed Judge Brian Cregan that they didn’t require any order.

Future endeavours

The judge congratulated both sides for sparing the court an eight-week case and wished both McIlroy and Horizon success in their future endeavours.

With the seats reserved for McIlroy’s party empty, Ridge and his supporters hugged at the back of the court.

As the general hubbub of Court Number One died down, a joint press release was issued outlining the state of play from both parties.

“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.”