Rory leaves ISM for Horizon sports

Keano

From Irish Golf Desk on Twitter

Rory McIlroy has left Chubby Chandler's ISM for Horizon Sports Management stable. Joins Graeme McDowell with Conor Ridge.

BoardsMember

Wow, great coup for Horizon, that's fantastic for them. That pursuit has been ongoing for quite some time, great to see an Irish company do so well.

LuckyGent88

thats a big shock. he seemed to have a great relationship with Chubby and Shane O Mac!!!!!!

slumped

Going out on a limb here, but I don't think anything "official" will announced for around 10 days, and 10 hours.....

http://www.horizonsports.ie/


S

f22

slumped wrote: »

Going out on a limb here, but I don't think anything "official" will announced for around 10 days, and 10 hours.....

http://www.horizonsports.ie/


S

That website has been under construction for ages

conno16

i dont know why you were visiting it before

delusional..

f22

conno16 wrote: »

i dont know why you were visiting it before

delusional..

Great to see you back, obviously transition year has given you more free time to educate the world!

Ruu_Old

more from rte.ie

World number three and US Open champion Rory McIlroy has ended his association with management company International Sports Management.

The 22-year-old Holywood native had been with the company from the time he turned professional in 2007.

Manager Andrew 'Chubby' Chandler also handles the careers of world number two Lee Westwood, Open champion Darren Clarke, Masters champion Charl Schwartzel and three-time major winner Ernie Els.

McIlroy is expected to be following Ryder Cup partner and close friend Graeme McDowell into the Dublin-based Horizon Sports Management stable that also includes Ross Fisher and Michael Hoey.

McDowell was also formerly with Chandler at ISM, but made his move before winning last year's US Open.

The split was announced two days after McIlroy competed against Clarke, Schwartzel and US PGA champion Keegan Bradley at the PGA Grand Slam of Golf in Bermuda.

He led by three with 12 holes to play, but fell away to a 75 and to third place three behind Schwartzel and four behind winner Bradley.

Chandler, who was in attendance, commented in the company's statement today: "Onward and upwards. We have had a quite brilliant year.

"The company is growing and adapting to ensure it stays at the forefront of golf and the business of managing players. We wish Rory every success."

The statement also said: "It has been an honour representing Rory and we take great pride in the role ISM has played in guiding him successfully through his formative years as a professional golfer.

"Under our management he has grown into an international figure and he leaves us as a major champion.

"ISM prides itself on putting the athlete first. In golf this has enabled our players to achieve unprecedented success with Rory joining Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel and Darren Clarke as a major winner and Lee Westwood at the summit of the world rankings.

"ISM continues to go from strength to strength, its dedicated team of professionals providing our clients with world-class support across the globe. We look forward to even more success in the years ahead."

McIlroy had yet to comment either in person, in a statement or via his Twitter site.

He travelled to Bermuda from China and was heading back there for next week's Shanghai Masters, which, although not on any Tour, offers golf's richest first prize of almost €1.5million.

Chandler has been at McIlroy's side since he joined the paid ranks after winning the silver medal as leading amateur in The Open at Carnoustie four years ago.

As an 18-year-old, he finished third in the Dunhill Links Championship on only his second start, then fourth next time out at the Madrid Masters, but had to wait until the 2009 Dubai Desert Classic for his first victory.

Last season he broke through on the PGA Tour in America, winning the Quail Hollow Championship with a closing 62 two days before his 21st birthday, and then began The Open at St Andrews with a major record-equalling 63.

An 80 followed in windy conditions but, after third-place finishes there and at the USPGA Championship, he found himself centre stage again at The Masters this April.

Three brilliant opening rounds put him four clear, but he then collapsed to a closing 80 and in a traumatic turnaround dropped all the way back to 15th place 10 strokes behind Schwartzel.

Many wondered how long he would carry the scars of that, but then came the US Open at Congressional near Washington, where he broke record after record in winning by eight with a 16-under-par total.

Johnny_Fontane

I presume its something to do chubbys cut from commercial deals.

I'd say its chubby sized to say the least. With Ridge, he can do unreal deals for himself.

slave1

Manager Andrew 'Chubby' Chandler also handles the careers of world number two Lee Westwood, Open champion Darren Clarke, Masters champion Charl Schwartzel and three-time major winner Ernie Els.

Good ole RTE, Ernie is not with Chubby since earlier this year

PAULWATSON

Wee Mac is a touch ruthless!

MyKeyG

PAULWATSON wrote: »

Wee Mac is a touch ruthless!

He was singing 'Chubby's' praises in an interview at the Grand Slam, didn't even bat an eyelid!

PAULWATSON

Wee Karl getting all fizzed up

http://www.independent.ie/sport/golf/mcilroy-was-chubbys-meal-ticket-and-its-nobody-elses-fault-he-left-2915277.html

Never read a bigger pile of trash.

Adiaga 2

PAULWATSON wrote: »

Wee Karl getting all fizzed up

http://www.independent.ie/sport/golf/mcilroy-was-chubbys-meal-ticket-and-its-nobody-elses-fault-he-left-2915277.html

Never read a bigger pile of trash.

There's probably some truth in the article but it's so obvious that he sharpened his claws just before writing it. I hate when journalists do that - pile of trash is right.

Martin567

Adiaga 2 wrote: »

There's probably some truth in the article but it's so obvious that he sharpened his claws just before writing it. I hate when journalists do that - pile of trash is right.

There's not just some truth to the article, I would find it hard to disagree with any of it. Can anyone who thinks it is trash detail in a coherent way what they think is wrong with it? By that, I mean without resorting to name calling and insulting the writer or anybody else.

Rory is a phenomenal player who could go on to achieve anything in the game. He also seems to be a loose cannon who constantly speaks without thinking. I know nothing about ISM but hopefully Rory might find somebody more mature than himself that he is prepared to listen to and avoid some of the mistakes he has made in the past year.

Adiaga 2

Well it seemed the writer has some past grievances with Chandler and used his position as a writer for national newspaper to have the last laugh. That's what I find trashy about it.

soundsham

Adiaga 2 wrote: »

Well it seemed the writer has some past grievances with Chandler and used his position as a writer for national newspaper to have the last laugh. That's what I find trashy about it.

+1 trashy reporting
Me(4ucking)ow !!

Martin567

Adiaga 2 wrote: »

Well it seemed the writer has some past grievances with Chandler and used his position as a writer for national newspaper to have the last laugh. That's what I find trashy about it.

Perhaps. I think he's just doing his job and giving his opinion.

I would say Rory is a difficult person to manage. Only time will tell if it's a good move and if the criticisms of Chandler might be valid.

ccmp

I cannot help but think that the Masters was where the rot set in. Rory went through torture on the back nine where for the first time in his short but wonderful career things were simply out of control on the course. Chubby for the first three days was really lording playing up his relationship with Rory, and playing up his great stable of players. How shocking it must have been for McIlroy to walk off the 18th green alone and see Chubby celebrating the win with Charles Schwartzel. Rory was dropped there and then. McIlroy.needed his manager to be there for him and he wasn't. Rory knew then that he was never going to get the attention he needed from ISM. Smart move!

Comments above from reader of Independent article. Very relevant if true. Rory badly needed support at that time and Chandler should have been there to give it. Not easily forgotten if he was was in front of the cameras with Schwartzel.

PAULWATSON

Martin567 wrote: »

There's not just some truth to the article, I would find it hard to disagree with any of it. Can anyone who thinks it is trash detail in a coherent way what they think is wrong with it? By that, I mean without resorting to name calling and insulting the writer or anybody else.

Yeah Rory is a bit mouthy, self important and all that. But he is only a young fella, his head is a bit turned by the situation at the minute. But as for Karl, he is going on like a little bitch.

Chubb has three major winners this year. The Prince tries to live up to the plastic paddy, "i love the sauce" image. But anyone who knows him will tell you, he is out destroying the range 99% of the time.

ccmp wrote: »

Comments above from reader of Independent article. Very relevant if true. Rory badly needed support at that time and Chandler should have been there to give it. Not easily forgotten if he was was in front of the cameras with Schwartzel.

And how would Ridge have react if G bags the masters next year, after beating Rory on the back nine?

You can't please everyone, and Chubb had Cage with Rors right after the last putt was holed.

Karl did make one reasonable point, Rors is trying to sharpen up his image. He fancies himself as a bit of a thinking man, building his brand and so on. His site is down at the minute, no doubt the new one will be like rolex.com.

As for Wozza, nice enough bird alright.

gorfield

From my close (and reliable) contacts who are close to this situation it seems there is a financial issue where money is missing which Rory is obviously unhappy about. So please end the bashing of rory who to be fair is a very nice young man!

conno16

i hope Horizon haven't bitten off more than they can chew
they're a small organisation after all

managing the likes of g-mac, rors, derval o'rourke (girl from Spar adverts) and big shane lowry from the one stable will require serious firepower

ziggy

This post has been deleted.

Martin567

ziggy wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

He's hardly sucking up to Rory. I thought he was quite critical of a few things that Rory has said or done.

Enigma IE

Good move for Rory in my opinion. He needs some proper guidance and a professional management, PR team behind him.

ziggy

This post has been deleted.

Jaysoose

gorfield wrote: »

From my close (and reliable) contacts who are close to this situation it seems there is a financial issue where money is missing which Rory is obviously unhappy about. So please end the bashing of rory who to be fair is a very nice young man!

So people are talking about financial irregularities then are they? Im sure all parties involved will be delighted people are spreading rumours on internet forums.

conno16

gorfield has a reliable source though

when is chubby gonna be locked up, thats what the discussion should now move on to
best of luck to Horizon, but rem ye only have rory cause of financial irregularities at his previous stable

PAULWATSON

rors playing with LJW for the first two rounds this week. I fancy westy to do him over proper this week.

sausagehead

PAULWATSON wrote: »

rors playing with LJW for the first two rounds this week. I fancy westy to do him over proper this week.

rory stopped following westwood and chubby on twitter recently so it might be a bit awkward at the first tee!

mikemanley

sausagehead wrote: »

rory stopped following westwood and chubby on twitter recently so it might be a bit awkward at the first tee!

I find that a bit immature tbh. Rory doesn't seem to be the same humble guy of the start of the year but then again i dont know what goes on behind closed doors

Hoppermcgrath

ziggy wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

McGinty cannot write an article without referencing Harrington in some shape or form. He stretches to find the most tenuous link just to mention PH. If he did an article on Jeev Milkha Singh he'd mention how Harrington likes curry. Standard of golf journalism in Ireland is appalling generally.

The Westwood/Rory thing is interesting. Westwood made a very unnecessary and I think classless comment when Rory blew the Masters, mentioning that Rory always had a hook in his bag under pressure. While on the surface they are friendly you'd wonder how a sniping comment such as that (and others) really sat with Rory and his family. I lost a lot of time for Westwood after it.

soundsham

If you believe the tour rumour mill, Open champion Darren Clarke will be the next to leave ISM. Stranger things have happened I suppose.
from Irish golf desk via twitter

SSK

There are very few quality golf journos around in general. The Americans are horrendously pro-PGA tour/American golf even though there's very few of the top players from there now. And their Tiger obsession is extremely tired at this stage.

McGinty is a bit grating alright. Similar to the Americans writing about their own players he's just appealing to his market by covering the Irish players. Gets a bit old after a while. I think that article is ok though and criticises both sides fairly equally.

Iain Carter is ok, Donegan can be at times. The Telegraph has a appalling clown writing for them Oliver Brown, who seems to think that writing about what golfers say on Twitter constitutes writing on golf.

Denis Pugh is the best on TV and anywhere else.

SSK

soundsham wrote: »

If you believe the tour rumour mill, Open champion Darren Clarke will be the next to leave ISM. Stranger things have happened I suppose.
from Irish golf desk via twitter

Usually a decent enough source.

If that happens it suggests there must be some funny business going on.

soundsham

DC's reply
“ @IrishGolfDesk : If you believe the tour rumour mill, Open champion Darren Clarke will be the next to leave ISM. Absolutely no chance!!!
No truth to the rumour

wildgoose

Martin567 wrote: »

T

He also seems to be a loose cannon who constantly speaks without thinking. I know nothing about ISM but hopefully Rory might find somebody more mature than himself that he is prepared to listen to and avoid some of the mistakes he has made in the past year.

watch out here come the irish begrudgers again, notice how they slip in under the radar by first saying something positive and then qualifying what they really want to say with the negative. Its no wonder we dont have more successful sports stars.:)

Martin567

wildgoose wrote: »

watch out here come the irish begrudgers again, notice how they slip in under the radar by first saying something positive and then qualifying what they really want to say with the negative. Its no wonder we dont have more successful sports stars.:)

So I'm an Irish begrudger now! Last year someone attacked me on here for apparently wanting everyone to wave the tricolour for any Irish success and never say anything negative about any Irish sportsman. Needless to say, that allegation was groundless or else I must have undergone a personality tranplant in the past 12 months.

Rory let himself down a few times this year with some silly comments. I don't see anything begruding about pointing out that simple fact. His talent is without question and I look forward to watching him for the next 10 years and beyond to see how much he wins. Good luck to him.

k.p.h

Martin567 wrote: »

Rory let himself down a few times this year with some silly comments. I don't see anything begruding about pointing out that simple fact.

For **** sake ..! Let himself down ..? He told Townsend to get ****ed because he was being a twat (which he was) and he said his game dose not suit the weather in The Open (which it doesn't). Let himself down my fanny ..! Anyone who thinks he let himself down or said something that was improper needs to go find a way getting their head out of their arse. Jesus ..

Sorry Martin, not exactly directed at you but you tipped me over the edge, been listening to some serious amount of this holier than thou bull**** recently in regards to McIlroy.

Enigma IE

His comments about The Open and Tiger were disappointing, but I feel he is often 'led' by reporters. They will build you up and then knock you down, the british media renowned for it.

I hear he declined to comment about the change of management after his first round in Shanghai yesterday, good move, I'm assuming the PR people at Horizon had a word.

k.p.h

Enigma IE wrote: »

His comments about The Open and Tiger were disappointing, but I feel he is often 'led' by reporters. They will build you up and then knock you down, the british media renowned for it.

I hear he declined to comment about the change of management after his first round in Shanghai yesterday, good move, I'm assuming the PR people at Horizon had a word.

Is this what you want though, someone who spoke honestly and openly turned into a cardboard cut-out only answering "yes sir no sir". It's like everyone is making money out of him being a boring marketing machine.

It's fine for his management or sponsors to want that of him, they are only in it for the money. But for golf fans to want him like that ..? I don't get it ..?

People often go on about Tiger and his no show interviews, some people even when as far as to be outraged when he didn't give one earlier this year. What difference would it have made he says the same boring stuff every time. Is that what the fans want Rory to be like .?

k.p.h

Enigma IE wrote: »

His comments about The Open and Tiger were true, but I feel he is often 'led' by reporters. They will build you up and then knock you down, the british media renowned for it.

I hear he declined to comment about the change of management after his first round in Shanghai yesterday, good move, I'm assuming the PR people at Horizon had a word.

FYP

Enigma IE

k.p.h wrote: »

Is this what you want though, someone who spoke honestly and openly turned into a cardboard cut-out only answering "yes sir no sir".

Answer NO, but he needs to learn a bit of diplomacy and give respect where it's due. At least 3 incidents come to mind, all were avoidable, Rory on the Ryder Cup, Rory on Tiger, Rory on the Open.

Plenty of top class golfers adjusted their game for The Open. Ricky Fowler never played links in his life, but played like a legend and was playing punches and pitch and runs like a seasoned links player.

A few of the senior pros are surprised by McIlroy's attitude.

Listen, I like McIlroy, he's a class golfer and I always root for him in every tournament. He just needs to grow up a little, he's still a young guy after all.

Martin567

k.p.h wrote: »

For **** sake ..! Let himself down ..? He told Townsend to get ****ed because he was being a twat (which he was) and he said his game dose not suit the weather in The Open (which it doesn't). Let himself down my fanny ..! Anyone who thinks he let himself down or said something that was improper needs to go find a way getting their head out of their arse. Jesus ..

Sorry Martin, not exactly directed at you but you tipped me over the edge, been listening to some serious amount of this holier than thou bull**** recently in regards to McIlroy.

I think he let himself down by how he said things rather than what he said. He could have defended himself and his caddie against Jay Townsend without resorting to personal insults.

Regarding the Open, the problem was not saying that the weather does not suit his game. The problem was his attitude in saying that he wasn't going to make any effort to change his game for that week. He implied that he would just turn up each year and hit towering iron shots even if it was blowing a gale. Surely, as one of the most talented players in the game, he must have the ability to be able play a lower type of shot to suit the elements. Ricky Fowler was able to do it. Rory implied that he can't do this and wasn't even going to try.

Martin567

k.p.h wrote: »

Is this what you want though, someone who spoke honestly and openly turned into a cardboard cut-out only answering "yes sir no sir". It's like everyone is making money out of him being a boring marketing machine.

It's fine for his management or sponsors to want that of him, they are only in it for the money. But for golf fans to want him like that ..? I don't get it ..?

People often go on about Tiger and his no show interviews, some people even when as far as to be outraged when he didn't give one earlier this year. What difference would it have made he says the same boring stuff every time. Is that what the fans want Rory to be like .?

As a golf fan, I agree about Tiger's interviews - boring. I don't agree about Rory's being refreshing, etc, as he is so honest. Personally I think Harrington, Mickelson & Ogilvy, to name just three, are far more interesting interviewees than Rory without getting into trouble either. I have no issue with Rory being outspoken. He just needs to learn where to draw the line and not give the (possibly incorrect) impression that he has a bad attitude.

wildgoose

Martin567 wrote: »

As a golf fan, I agree about Tiger's interviews - boring. I don't agree about Rory's being refreshing, etc, as he is so honest. Personally I think Harrington, Mickelson & Ogilvy, to name just three, are far more interesting interviewees than Rory without getting into trouble either. I have no issue with Rory being outspoken. He just needs to learn where to draw the line and not give the (possibly incorrect) impression that he has a bad attitude.

Sounds to me like some people want the McIlroy to be the pope as well as an outstanding golfer. For G..s sake he's one of the worlds finest golfers and happpen's to be Irish. If he were in any other country, that would be enough to have him canonized.

Please! don't let anybody compare Tiger Woods misbehavior on the course/links with a being a paragon of a golfer. From his spitting swearing breaking of clubs the more i know about him the less I like him as an individual, but I do acknowledge his outstanding ability and that's enough for me to watch him play

McIlrou Currently leading the Shanghai M. with 3 under. Nice!

Opics

This could end up being a very clever move...wins his first event with Horizon

soundsham

Opics wrote: »

This could end up being a very clever move...wins his first event with Horizon

Say they are on 7% of his winnings
$140,000 banked today !!

cornerboy

PAULWATSON wrote: »

rors playing with LJW for the first two rounds this week. I fancy westy to do him over proper this week.

good call

k.p.h

Golfers the new rock stars ..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTP2RUD_cL0

Peak for the majors .... Peak for the $$$'s

Johnny_Fontane

soundsham wrote: »

Say they are on 7% of his winnings
$140,000 banked today !!

where do you get this 7% from?

I cant imagine horizon are getting 7% of his winnings or even any of his winnings.

They will get their % from commercial deals and thats it I would imagine.