RORY MCILROY SETS UP OWN MANAGEMENT COMPANY

FROM THE DAILY TELEGRAPH WEBSITE
By JAMES CORRIGAN
Rory McIlroy finally confirmed on Friday that he is going on his own after setting up Rory McIlroy Incorporated. His father, Gerry, will take an important role in the management company.

However, Horizon, the agency which McIlroy announced he has left, is still seeking compensation from the two-time major champion for quitting his five-year contract after two years.

McIlroy’s second split with a management company since October 2011 has been golf’s worst kept secret. For months, both the golfer and Horizon refused to comment officially on the story which emerged in April, citing legal reasons.

But having signed up with PR firm the Communications Clinic, McIlroy has decided to go public, issuing a statement on his website, declaring that the details of the termination with Horizon are with his legal team.

“The golfer’s business interests will from now on be managed by Rory McIlroy Incorporated. CEO of RMI will be Donal Casey,” read the statement. 
“The Rory Foundation for charity will be run by Barry Funston, a business leader and long-time friend of the McIlroy family.

"Both men will serve on the RMI Board, together with Gerry McIlroy.” 
Casey worked for Horizon until last December and was seen as integral in negotiating McIlroy’s £78million switch to Nike.

One aspect of the new backroom did raise eyebrows. Terry Prone, who runs the Communications Clinic, is regarded as Ireland’s leading media commentator who often appears on TV. 

Prone’s company has overseen the PR for some of the country’s best-known politicians and her appointment is an obvious reaction by

McIlroy to some of the negative headlines he has generated this year.
He attracted criticism for his mid-round withdrawal at the Honda Classic in February and for then initially saying he was “in a bad place mentally” before, via a statement, claiming he was suffering from dental pain.
The manner in which that affair was handled was thought to be one reason for the division with Horizon, although it is understood there is a variety of business factors.
It has not been an amicable split and has affected McIlroy’s relationship with Graeme McDowell, the former US Open champion, who Horizon represent.
The Dublin agency released its own statement, saying: “Horizon Sports Management notes, with disappointment, the statement issued by Rory McIlroy today. Horizon has achieved exceptional results for Rory in realising his commercial objectives.
"The current management contract has a number of years to run. Rory’s decision to seek a termination of the management contract with Horizon is now regrettably in the hands of legal advisers.”