Rory McIlroy's Trial: The Only Primer You Need

It's called £35million and six weeks, both of which threaten to put a damper on McIlroy's Masters preparation with the first major just two months away. Not that his dominant play in the Omega Dubai Desert Classic suggests he's worried.

Derek Lawrenson breaks down how it got to this point, the view that a Tuesday settlement is still possible and what else you need to know. The key point though: it's McIlroy who the judge has felt has the most to lose going to trial.

...the judge involved was so struck by the implications if all McIlroy’s financial details were made public he sent the two sides to arbitration. Still, no common ground was found.

And so a case that is expected to last six weeks will begin with McIlroy’s senior counsel outlining the reasons why they believe the original contract he signed with Horizon Sports in 2011 and the subsequent amendment two years ago were ‘unconscionable and an improvident bargain’.