Rory McIlroy accused of 'deliberately destroying phone data'

World number one golfer Rory McIlroy is alleged to have deliberately wiped data from his mobile phones prior to taking legal action against his former management company Horizon Sports Management.

A High Court heard claims that the Northern Irishman's devices would have held information regarding his plans to cancel his contract with the company.

The sportsman confirmed in a statement that the phones had been restored to their factory settings, but Paul Sreenan SC, representing Horizon, claimed that files could have been deliberately destroyed and it is unreasonable for McIlroy not to back up his mobile.

According to the Daily Mail, Horizon have told the court that they want to inspect McIlroy's phones because they believe that some data can still be retrieved.

The company have accused McIlroy of deleting the files two years before he took legal action against Horizon.