Sliding Rory McIlroy in legal bunker Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy has lost his girlfriend and his No 1 ranking in what has proven to be a horrible year Source: AFP AS Rory McIlroy strides the fairways of Asia and Australia for about $6 million in appearance fees in the next few weeks, his legal team is pursuing his multi-million-dollar financial dealings in the high court of Dublin. At stake is about $US6.8m in management fees that McIlroy has paid to his former agents, Horizon Sports Management, but such is the bitter dispute, Horizon is countersuing for $US2.4m in unpaid fees. All the while, McIlroy's form slump continues unabated. Adding to his woes are reports his relationship with Danish tennis star Caroline Wozniacki is on the rocks. McIlroy has refused to discuss the matter, declaring yesterday: "My private life is private, I'd like to keep it that way." But Wozniacki has denied the couple are estranged. I'm so tired of the rumours. They occur every time Rory and I are apart a few days or do not write on Twitter," the former world No 1 told Denmark's Ekstra Bladet. There is nothing in it, and from now on I just think that I will keep my private life private. McIlroy says he was young and naive in signing the management deal and he was exploited, misled and taken advantage of. Horizon, headed by Irish agent Conor Ridge, says the contract was fair and notes that the company subsequently negotiated endorsement contracts worth $US50m this year and $US129m over five years for the golfer. Buried in the detail of financial data submitted in court documents are vignettes of staggering wealth and a curious case of a donation to McIlroy's charity of choice, Unicef, being reversed. McIlroy also reveals he was unable to secure a contract with top Hollywood entertainment agency Creative Artist Agency because of problems with Horizon. The saga started on the day of Horizon's Christmas party, December 21, 2011, soon after McIlroy left the agent that had guided him through his youth, Chubby Chandler, and just after his US Open victory. McIlroy, then 22, signed the five-year Horizon deal amid an atmosphere of bonhomie in a solicitor's office. McIlroy says in papers lodged with the court he had no legal advice or knowledge of negotiating before he signed the deal, and trusted Horizon to charge the appropriate rates. Before the relationship soured, McIlroy would go on to dominate the 2012 golfing scene, winning six tournaments. And his global superstar status solidified, while Horizon secured a reported $US100m deal for McIlroy to change clubs from Titleist to Nike and other smaller sponsorships. As recently as March, McIlroy signed an extension of the Horizon contract to 2017, but he claims in court that Horizon charged 5 per cent of prize winnings and 20 per cent of sponsorship and appearance money, rates his lawyers claim are usually for inexperienced or unproven golfers. The court papers also show that a donation of €166,000 to Unicef was reversed on the eve of a trip to Haiti. The Belfast Telegraph reported the Unicef money was paid, according to Horizon, for the precise purpose of protecting McIlroy and his reputation after he had pulled out of a second trip to Haiti in March this year. This year has been a struggle for McIlroy and he has failed to win any tournaments. McIlroy has formed his own management company, Rory McIlroy Inc, run by his father, Gerry, and a former employee of Horizon, Donal Casey. Horizon said in a statement: "The claim will be defended vigorously and comprehensively in legal process."