OPENING DAY OF COURT CASE

Rory McIlroy 'wiped data' from mobile

phones before legal action, court told

FROM THE BELFAST TELEGRAPH

By Tim Healy

Rory McIlroy deliberately "wiped clean" up to eight mobile phone and electronic devices despite the fact they may have contained important information relating to his legal action against his former sports management company, it was claimed 

This "factory resetting" of devices, which it is claimed was also done to devices of three other key figures in the case, including McIlroy's father Gerry, was "incredible for a person in his position", senior counsel Paul Sreenan said.
Mr Sreenan was opening a  High Court application brought by Dublin-based Horizon Sports Management and two other companies, seeking orders from the court for further disclosure of documents and inspection of the devices of the world number one golfer and others.
Mr Sreenan said his clients had to bring the application because McIlroy had refused or failed to respond to requests for better disclosure and had asserted that he (McIlroy) and three others close to him had also wiped their devices before passing them on to others or to charity.
McIlroy is suing Horizon, along with Gurteen Ltd, with a registered  address in Malta, and Canovan Management Services, also based in Dublin, claiming a representation agreement signed by him in December 2011 is invalid and unenforceable on a number of grounds including alleged undue influence.
The defendants deny the claims and have counter-claimed for some US$3m  allegedly outstanding under the agreement for off-course revenues.
Mr Sreenan said today the amount of lost commission to his clients is now estimated at US $9m.
McIroy, in his claim, says Horizon charged commission "many times greater" than is standard in the sports agency industry including one agreement in which he must pay 20 per cent of his sponsorship

FORMER WORLD No 1 DEVELOPING A NEW CAREER

TIGER WOODS TO DESIGN A DUBAI 

COURSE FOR DONALD TRUMP

Tiger Woods is to design an 18-hole "championship" course for Donald Trump at Trump World Golf Club Dubai, according to a story posted on Woods' website today.
The former World No 1 player, whose career has been blighted by injuries over the last year or two, already has golf-course design projects underway in the United States and Mexico. 
His first completed course, El Cardonal, is scheduled to open on December 16 at Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
The Dubai course will be built within the 55 million square-foot community of Akoya Oxygen. "I've been fortunate to play great golf courses all over the globe, from the original links courses in Scotland to the famous parkland courses in America and the distinctive layouts of the sandbelt of Australia," Woods said.
"I hope to bring elements of those great courses and others to the Trump World Golf Club Dubai with the end result being a course that golfers will want to play again and again."
Woods has won two golf tournaments in Dubai - the Dubai Desert Classic in 2006 and 2008. 
The Dubai course will be the Trump Organization's 18th golf property, and with site preparation already underway, it's expected to open by the end of 2017.

EASTWOOD PRO MOVING TO NORTH-EAST

STUART WILSON TO SUCCEED MURIEL

THOMSON AS PORTLETHEN CLUB PRO


By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Stuart Wilson, head professional at Eastwood Golf Club, Newton Mearns in Renfrewshire, has been appointed by Portlethen Golf Club to succeed Muriel Thomson who retires as the club's first and only professional at the end of the month.

Born at Glenrothes, Fife, Wilson (pictured right) was a member at Kirkcaldy Golf Club before turning professional and becoming an assistant at Ladybank Golf Club.
He became a teaching professional and was Head of Instruction at Gleneagles Hotel's Golf Academy.
Wilson has been head pro at Eastwood GC since 2007. He will take up his new post at Portlethen in January.
Muriel Thomson (pictured below) turned pro in 1979 at the age of 24 after a successful amateur career which saw her capped for Great Britain and Ireland in the Curtis Cup (against the USA) and Vagliano Trophy (against the Continent of Europe) matches of 1977-78.
 

She won nine times on the British women's professional circuit, the forerunner of the Ladies European Tour, between 1979 and 1989 and topped its Order of Merit in 1980 and 1983.
The newly-founded Portlethen Golf Club, only a few miles from Aberdeen on the main road south, appointed her its first club professional in April 1990 and she has been there ever since.
ENDS

SEVERE WEATHER FORECAST FOR WEDNESDAY

EDINBURGH AND EAST ALLIANCE 

POSTPONED, NEXT FIXTURE JAN 7

Tomorrow's (Wednesday) Edinburgh and East of Scotland Golfers' Alliance fixture at The Glen, North Berwick has been postponed until January 28 because of the forecast severe weather.
The next Edinburgh and East Alliance fixture will be at Gullane No 3 on January 7.

MARTIN KAYMER 2ND, RYDER CUP TEAM 3RD

RORY McILROY VOTED WINNER OF  

GOLF WRITERS' TROPHY


ASSOCIATION OF GOLF WRITERS NEWS RELEASE

Rory McIlroy has won the Golf Writers Trophy for the second time in three years following a stunning season that saw him claim two major championships and play a leading role in Europe’s Ryder Cup victory.

The 25 year old from Holywood, Northern Ireland was the overwhelming choice for this prestigious award following votes cast by members of the Association of Golf Writers. 

In addition to his victories in the Open Championship and the USPGA Championship, McIlroy also won the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational and the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

The Golf Writers Trophy was first awarded in 1951 and is given to the European who is considered to have made the most outstanding contribution to the sport during the year.

Previous two-time winners include Sir Nick Faldo, Padraig Harrington, Tony Jacklin, Sandy Lyle, Bernhard Langer and Annika Sorenstam. The only players to win it three times are Seve Ballesteros and Lee Westwood.

Martin Kaymer finished runner-up in the votes this year, following his wins at the United States Open and the Players Championship.

Europe’s victorious Ryder Cup team at Gleneagles in September rounded off a high-quality top three.

  ‘First of all, I’d like to say a huge thank-you to the members of the Association of Golf Writers who have felt me worthy to receive this honour, I really do appreciate it,’ said McIlroy.

 ‘To win it for the first time in 2012 felt like a great achievement but to win again in 2014 is testimony to what has been a truly fabulous year for me.

  ‘I think one of the nicest things for me is the relationship I have developed over the years on tour with the members of the AGW. I’d like to say, and I know all the players would agree, we appreciate the job you do in covering the sport – even if we don’t always agree with what you write!

  ‘Thanks once again. I hope you all have a great Christmas and Happy New Year.’

  Derek Lawrenson, chairman of the Association of Golf Writers, said: ’It seems amazing that a man can win the US Open and the PGA Tour’s flagship event and still not get a look-in for this award, but that sums up a remarkable year for European golf. Congratulations to Martin Kaymer on his victories, to Europe’s Ryder Cup team and also to Charley Hull, who is poised to win the Ladies European Tour Order of Merit at the age of just 18. But I don’t think too many people would argue Rory is a most worthy winner.’