Chubby Chandler baffled by Rory McIlroy’s stunning decision to dump ISM
US Open champion Rory McIlroy’s decision to ditch International Sports Management (ISM) has left Andrew Chandler also known as “Chubby Chandler”, baffled and stymied and the burly manager is still trying to figure out as to what actually caused the spilt.
McIlroy, on the middle of his whirlwind schedule around the world, informed Chubby about his decision at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York before leaving for Bermuda for the PGA Grand Slam of Golf.
Chandler has now come out with certain speculations, devoid of any proof though, that McIlory’s decision to quit ISM was partly influenced by his newly found love, the Tennis world number one Caroline Wozniacki.
“I don’t know whether it was his girlfriend (Wozniacki) getting in his ear or someone else but I thought we were doing a pretty good job, to be honest, and I think that’s how the outside world saw it,” said Chandler.
But there have also been reports that the duo have not been on good terms since the Open Championship at Royal St. George’s. The young Irishman was never comfortable with his manager following Chandler’s reckless comments where he threw his weight behind
Lee Westwood, touting him as the best possible bet while at the same time, rejected any notions that McIlroy might also have a chance of winning the event. Apparently McIlroy also had a problem with Chandler being a “celebrity manager”, and getting strong
coverage in the media for being the lone manager of three major title holders, Masters winner Charl Schwartzel, last year’s Open champion Louis Oosthuizen, this year's Open Champion Darren Clarke and McIlroy.
“I don’t know if Rory didn’t like [me being a press figure] but he referred to me as a ‘celebrity manager’ a couple of times, which I thought was an odd thing to say,” Chandler added.
McIlroy won the US Open at Congressional Country Club earlier in the season and decided to lay back and enjoy the fruits of his triumph for a relatively longer period of time. He returned for the third major of the year, the Open Championship to post a disappointing
finish and lashed out at Links Golf for being inaccurate and heavily dependent on weather conditions. He was criticized later for his insensitive comments and he quickly retracted.
He spent the past few weeks touring and playing golf all over the world, stretching from Korea to Bermuda. The hectic schedule charted out by Chandler for the young Irishman, could also be a cause of trifle between the duo. Chandler, however, insists that
McIlroy has still to learn a lot before he finally comes out of his tender age to weigh his decisions before implementing.
McIlroy’s website, which was formerly managed by ISM is currently down and will be upgraded and hosted by his new agency, The Horizon.
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