The world’s number one golfer Rory McIlroy is to continue negotiations with his former agent in an attempt to avert a potentially long and bitter courtroom showdown over a multimillion euro contract dispute.

Lawyers for both sides in Rory McIlroy’s legal case against his former sports management company have for a second time asked for the case to be deferred.

A lawsuit involving the world’s number one golfer Rory McIlroy and his former agent has been deferred until later today.

Irish golfer Rory McIlroy is set for a courtroom showdown today in a lawsuit against his former agent.

Trio accused of working against golfer’s relationship with agency

A High Court judge has ordered the world’s number one golfer Rory McIlroy and his former management company, Horizon Sports Management, to engage in peace talks over the next four weeks.

Irish golfer Graeme McDowell last night toasted the "happiest moment of my life" as he welcomed his first child into the world, a life-changing moment that followed hot on the heels of a career-changing one.

Horizon Sports Management released a statement yesterday evening announcing that Graeme McDowell will leave the company when his current contract expires at the end of the year.

An email sent by golfer Rory McIlroy in October 2011 indicated no difficulty with a proposed representation agreement under which he would pay commission rates of 20% and 5% respectively on his off- and on-course earnings, the Commercial Court in Dublin was told yesterday.

The cash pile at Horizon Sports more than doubled to €506,882 last year, as it prospered overseeing the career of superstar golfer Rory McIlroy.

Golf star Rory McIlroy signed a contract with his sports management company on the day of the firm’s Christmas party, court papers claim.

Golf star Rory McIlroy is to be hit with a counter claim when he takes legal action against his former sports agent, a court has been told.

PÁDRAIG HARRINGTON insists the Irish Open is still his “fifth major” and Graeme McDowell stresses it is “on my golfing bucket list” but Rory McIlroy doesn’t seem quite so sure.

Rory McIlroy has mended signs of a split in his relationship with long-time friend Graeme McDowell ahead of playing alongside one another in the BMW PGA Championship, which begins at Wentworth today.

YOU can understand Graeme McDowell’s disappointment at Rory McIlroy’s decision to leave Horizon Sports Management after just 18 months in the same stable.

Rory McIlroy has moved to defuse tomorrow’s face-to-face with the media by revealing exclusively to a US magazine that walking off the course at the Honda Classic last Friday “was not the right thing to do”.

Rory McIlroy shakes hands with Ernie Els before walking in.

The acquisition of superstar golfer Rory McIlroy boosted Horizon Sports Management’s fortunes in 2011, with accumulated profits more than doubling to €275,217.

Apparel-maker Oakley has sued Rory McIlroy and Nike, insisting the world No 1 and the equipment giant breached his existing contract with Oakley when he recently signed a new deal with Nike estimated to be worth $250m.

Reports that world number one Rory McIlroy did not play last week’s Australian Open because he wanted a bigger appearance fee have been dismissed by officials.

Shane Lowry’s goal to end the year inside the world’s top 50 and earn a Masters invitation has been derailed after the reigning Portugal Masters champion had to be rushed to a local hospital in Dubai.

Rory McIlroy’s story is well documented.

While a Rory McIlroy-inspired Shane Lowry muscles his way into contention, Graeme McDowell was lucky he didn’t break his hand on day two of the WGC–HSBC Champions event in Shenzhen.

For more than three years, Shane Lowry has looked back on his famous victory in the Irish Open at Baltray with a variety of emotions.

It will take quite a while for Rory McIlroy to live down the fact he nearly scuppered Europe’s Ryder Cup victory bid before it had even begun.

Golfing superstar Rory McIlroy is set to move back in with his parents after deciding to put his luxury Co Down home on the market.

With four years until Rio he didn’t have to make the call

He might have struggled with the sheer size and weight of the Rodman Wanamaker Trophy, but Rory McIlroy was more relieved on Sunday night to rid himself of the heavy burden of expectation.

HAVING consolidated his place at the top of the world rankings by finishing third in the WGC Cadillac event at the weekend, Rory McIlroy takes a three-week break before the Masters at Augusta on April 5.

Rory McIlroy goes into his European Tour showdown with Luke Donald this week waiting for the results of blood tests.

SUPER agent Conor Ridge experienced an emotional Sunday at the UBS Hong Kong Open.

THREE-time Major winner Pádraig Harrington revealed more delight in the efforts of Gareth Maybin than co-leader Rory McIlroy on the opening round of the UBS Hong Kong Open.

RORY MCILROY says his shock split from manager Andrew “Chubby” Chandler was “a very difficult decision to make”.

GRAEME McDOWELL feels Rory McIlroy’s victory in Shanghai may have silenced a few of his critics.

THERE was no poaching by Horizon and no enticement on my part.

DUBLIN-based sports management company Horizon, headed by Galway man Conor Ridge, pulled off its biggest coup yesterday with the news that US Open champion and world No 3 Rory McIlroy will become their latest acquisition after leaving Andrew “Chubby” Chandler’s International Sports Management (ISM) company.

THE announcement that Rory McIlroy split from management company International Sports Management (ISM), headed by Chubby Chandler, will come as a surprise to many but others who have been following Rory’s meteoric rise through the pro ranks saw this one coming.

RYDER CUP player Ross Fisher has withdrawn from this week’s WGC-Bridgestone Invitational to stay with his wife and their ill three-month-old son Harry.

Ross Fisher went straight off to visit his baby son Harry in hospital after finishing joint 17th in his defence of the Irish Open title in Killarney today.

GARETH MAYBIN has plenty of extra incentive to charge into contention on the European Tour this year after signing a sponsorship deal that includes performance-related bonuses of up to $50m (€35.5m).

IT may be one of the lesser perks of becoming a major champion, but, by anyone’s standards, a couple of days’ golf in Bermuda is nice reward for a life-changing year.

GRAEME McDOWELL will convene his think tank next week in the Caribbean to thrash out his playing schedule for 2011.

ROSS FISHER, a 29-year-old from the horseracing haven of Ascot, proved at Killarney yesterday that nice guys do come first.