Rory McIlroy swaps course for court in biggest challenge yet

While Rory McIlroy continues to dominate on the golf course, he faces perhaps his biggest challenge yet in a Dublin courtroom this week.

The golfer, from Holywood, Co Down, was in imperious form to win the Omega Dubai Desert Classic yesterday, exactly six years to the day after he lifted the same trophy for his maiden win as a professional golfer.

However, celebrations for the world’s No 1 golfer will be short and sweet as he may be spending a considerable period of time in the High Court in Dublin, with his legal action against his former management company, Horizon Sports Management, set to begin tomorrow. The hearing is expected to last six to eight weeks.

Asked about the pending court case in the aftermath of his latest victory, McIlroy just wanted to bask in the winning moment. “Let me enjoy this win for an hour or two,” he said with a smile. Later, he admitted it was not the best circumstance in which to be heading home. “It’s not the best thing to be looking forward to, but it will be all over in a few weeks,” he said.

McIlroy won the Dubai Desert Classic for a second time with a final round of 70 securing his 10th European Tour title. “It is always great coming back here; it is nice to put my name on trophy once again,” he said at the trophy presentation.