Tim Rosaforte talks to Chubby Chandler after the game's most prominent 10-percenter was dropped by the game's most marketable star. Besides revealing how McIlroy fired Chandler (Kennedy Airport will never be the same for Chubby), he reveals that Chandler was caught off guard by the decision.
Chandler could accept that ISM's rise in prominence could have led to the separation, and that his fame -- especially the talk of a "Chubby Slam" - could have been a contributing factor. But he strongly denied ever parceling his clients, unless it involved one of his up-and-coming players. "We never did that," he said. "We never ever did that. Never did that with one tournament of any description. It would never be fair on any of them, that."
This still leaves Chandler with major champions Darren Clarke, Charl Schwartzel and Louis Oosthuizen, the world's No. 2-ranked player in Lee Westwood and no hard feelings. He doesn't believe Ridge "chased" McIlroy, but wouldn't be surprised if McDowell was a major influence in Rory's decision. The Northern Irishman left Chandler before winning Pebble Beach in 2010 saying he wanted more personal attention.
"We live in too small a world in an industry where you can't have grudges," Chandler said. "You can't be childish about it. I'm surprised, but I'm old enough to know this happens. At the end of the day, I thought we did a good job. Obviously he didn't."