Dublin: World No. 1 Rory McIlroy was spared a protracted legal battle ahead of the US Masters in April after settling a multi-million-pound case with his former management company on Wednesday, just a day after proceedings opened at Dublin’s High Court.
McIlroy had been suing Conor Ridge’s Horizon Sports Management company, who in turn counter-sued the Northern Irishman over the terms of an agreement he struck with the firm in 2011.
After proceedings opened on Tuesday, lawyers for both parties sought three deferrals to hold talks on the dispute.
Negotiating teams stayed late in Dublin’s High Court on Tuesday in an attempt to find a solution in a case that threatened to disturb the golfer’s preparations for the Masters.
In a joint statement, the two sides said the dispute had “been settled to the satisfaction of both parties who wish each other well for the future”.
McIlroy was not in court on Wednesday morning.
The 25-year-old needs to win the Masters to become only the sixth golfer in history, and the first from the British Isles, to win all of golf’s four majors — British Open, US Open, US Masters and US PGA.
If McIlroy, the reigning British Open and US PGA champion, dons the Green Jacket at Augusta National he will join the American quartet of Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods, and South Africa’s Gary Player, as the only golfers to have completed a career grand slam.
