US Open champion Rory McIlroy says he remains “very close” to Andrew “Chubby” Chandler, the manager he surprisingly dropped last month after a four-year association.

The 22-year-old world number three, in an interview with the European Tour’s official website yesterday, added that there was “nothing personal at all” in his decision that stunned golf.

McIlroy split with Chandler’s International Sports Management (ISM) firm to join Dublin-based Horizon.

“It’s a decision I didn’t take lightly,” McIlroy said ahead of the WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai.

“I thought long and hard about it and had a lot of chats with my mum and dad. Sometimes, to go forward in your career you just need to make decisions.”

McIlroy told Chandler he was leaving prior to last week’s Shanghai Masters, where he then scooped the biggest first prize in the sport – £1.25 million – after a play-off with American Anthony Kim.

Last week’s event did not count towards the European money list, but this week’s world championship does and, with world number one Luke Donald pulling out to await the birth of his second daughter, McIlroy can cut his lead at the top from £1.12m to £404,000.