Settlement seems imminent in McIlroy lawsuit against former agents

Rory McIlroy plays golf to win. However, that doesn’t appear the case in the trial of his lawsuit against his former agents Horizon Sports Management.

After over a year of delays and pre-trial motions, the Irish Commercial Court convened Tuesday in Dublin to hear McIlroy’s suit which alleges Horizon signed the world No. 1 to a 2011 deal — which was extended in March 2013 and McIlroy broke in September 2013 — that called for unreasonable commissions and fees. Horizon and principle Conor Ridge countersued at the time McIlroy filed his suit in October 2013, seeking back fees for deals the company negotiated on McIlroy’s behalf, including a deal with Nike worth over $ 100 million.

Court was in session a mere 42 seconds before it was adjourned until 2 p.m. Dublin time for negotiations toward a settlement. The court was again adjourned for another two hours for additional bargaining before a final resumption and dismissal for the day.

The Telegraph in the U.K. reported McIlroy’s team had offered a $ 12 million settlement during pre-trial mediation efforts mandated by the court in September. Horizon rejected the offer.

McIlroy missed a pair of high-profile European Tour events in November, saying he needed to prepare for the trial which observers estimate would take up to eight weeks and require McIlroy to be on the stand for at least a week.

Horizon’s lawyers have tried to damage McIlroy’s reputation in pre-trial hearings, suggesting McIlroy timed the filing of his suit to coincide with the wedding of Graeme McDowell, who courted McIlroy to join Horizon from International Sports Management in late 2011. The defendants’ lawyers have also accused McIlroy, his father Gerry and another associate of wiping multiple mobile devices of data pertinent to the trial.

What’s unclear is what motivates a potential settlement. McIlroy filed the suit, after all, after he broke away from Horizon to form his own management company, Rory McIlroy Inc., to handle his business interests. Perhaps he filed the suit hoping to secure a settlement at a fraction of what his contract dictates he owes Horizon. Perhaps he realized a prolonged trial could do more personal harm than financial good.

Regardless of why, it seems every effort is being made to end this trial before it really begins.

Ryan Ballengee is a Yahoo Sports contributor. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.

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