McDowell confirms Rory exit from Horizon

Graeme McDowell confirmed fellow US Open champion and close friend, Rory McIlroy is splitting from Horizon Sports Management and setting up his own management company.

McDowell revealed the break after advancing to the final 16 of the Volvo World Match-Play Championship in Bulgaria.

McIlroy’s departure from Horizon comes 11 months into a five-year contract and with the World No. 2 set to involve his family and close friends in managing his business affairs.

“Management is a funny thing and when things are maybe not going 100% on the golf course, it is natural to question everything you are doing from relationships, business and just everything you do,” said McDowell.

“Sometimes we decide to make choices and decisions, and take new paths that we perhaps feel like for the bigger picture will help us improve and get better.

“But it’s just one of those things, and you only have to look at the last 18 months and the job Horizons have done for Rory, Rory signing the biggest deal in golf at the end of last year.”

McDowell earned his place in the final 16 of the Thracian Cliffs tournament with a convincing 4 & 2 win over Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher.

And Shane Lowry kept alive a possible an all-Ireland final in the €3m event when he birdied the second extra play-off hole moments after defeating Sweden’s Peter Hanson 4 & 2.