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Rory McIlroy trims his schedule

Golf

Rory McIlroy announced Monday that he will be skipping two China-based tournaments he had previously planned to play due to a pending lawsuit.

"I'm going to need time away from tournament golf to prepare for the trial over my legal dispute with Horizon Sports Management," McIlroy, the world No. 1, said in a statement. "The court-mediated process failed over the weekend to resolve the issue."

The Northern Irishman intended on playing the BMW Masters in Shanghai on the European Tour that begins Oct. 30. He also was expected to tee it up the following week in the WGC-HSBC Champions event, which is co-sanctioned by the PGA Tour and the European Tour.

McIlroy said his schedule will resume Nov. 20-23 at the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, the European Tour's season-ending event.

In the lawsuit, McIlroy claims he was misled by Horizon and its leading agent, Conor Ridge, who were "primarily concerned with maximizing their own share of any commission." McIlroy also claims that fellow Northern Irishman and former Horizon client Graeme McDowell received preferential treatment in his contracts with Horizon, when, according to McIlroy, he was told he would get the same terms.

The case is expected to go to trial in February.

Among the sticking points between McIlroy and Horizon is the commission from a $100 million deal Horizon negotiated with Nike.

McIlroy recently won the PGA Tour and PGA of America's Player of the Year Award for 2014 after winning the year's final two majors at the Open Championship and PGA Championship.

Information from ESPN.com's Bob Harig and The Associated Press is included in this report.

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