Today In Rory News: Augusta Member Reaches Out, Settlement Talks With Horizon Not Progressing

It's not often an Augusta National member chats to the press, but Phil Casey quotes ANGC member Jeff Knox at length about the mid-am marker's desire to help Rory McIlroy achieve the career Grand Slam next year.

From Casey's report:

"We corresponded on that after the Masters and hopefully that will work out," Knox said. "I'm not sure he needs a lot of my help, he's the number two player in the world, but I am happy to be able to help in any way I can.

"We have left it open-ended, the ball is in his court, but I have his address and I will drop him a note of congratulation on winning the Open."

Rounds of 71 and 77 at Augusta National in April meant McIlroy made the cut on the mark of four over par and, as the odd man out of the 51 players left in the field, had to play with a marker on Saturday.

Two-time former Georgia amateur champion Knox had that enviable role and although McIlroy shot 71 with three birdies in the last four holes, Knox - who holds the course record of 61 from the members' tees – beat him by a single shot despite a bogey on the 18th.

Meanwhile Shane Phelan talks to lawyers involved in the McIlroy v. Horizon suit and it sounds like a trial is still likely.

Sources close to ongoing talks between lawyers for both sides indicated the case is likely to go to a full trial next year.

Those talks, which have been ongoing for several days, have been limited to the issue of documents that may be involved in the case.

There has been no discussion about a possible resolution of the complaint made by McIlroy against Dublin firm Horizon Sports Management.

And Pete Finch works off Ron Sirak's reporting on the potential for Rory's earnings after winning The Open.

Almost all contracts have bonuses tied to winning, and to winning majors," agent Mac Barnhardt of Crown Sports LLC told Golf Digest’s Ron Sirak earlier this year. "And the bonus for winning a major is two to four times higher than for a regular win. So we're talking bonuses from $100,000 to $500,000 per contract."

Sirak continued: “According to one agent who spoke on the condition of anonymity, [Justin] Rose's $1.2 million TaylorMade deal doubled in value after his Open victory. The same agent says [Phil] Mickelson got a $1 million bonus from Callaway for winning the British Open. A second agent says Rose and Masters winner Adam Scott will earn an extra $3 million to $5 million annually for winning a major."