McIlroy to skip 2 events to focus on lawsuit

Top-ranked Rory McIlroy says he is skipping two upcoming tournaments in China to prepare for a lawsuit against his former management company.

McIlroy said in a statement Monday that a mediation process to resolve his dispute with Dublin-based Horizon Sports Management ''failed over the weekend.''

The Northern Irishman has changed his playing schedule because ''I'm going to need time away from tournament golf to prepare for the trial.''

McIlroy has pulled out of the BMW Masters on Oct. 30-Nov. 2 and the HSBC Champions event the following week, which are both held in Shanghai. His next event will be the World Tour Championship in Dubai from Nov. 20-23.