Rory And Chubby Have First Of What Experts Predict Will Be Hundreds Of Awkward Encounters In Days, Months, Years Ahead

James Corrigan with the gory details of the uncomfortable mentor and pupil running into each other at the HSBC WGC Champions in China.

In slightly surreal scenes, their meeting was “papped” for posterity.

“We've both already moved on,” said Chandler. “We shared a laugh and a couple of jokes, had a chat and were fine, just like I'd knew we would be. I wish Rory nothing but the best and he knows that.”

Chandler congratulated McIlroy on his win at the Shanghai Masters on Sunday. The largest first prize in golf — £1.25m — would have represented a substantial percentage in golf for International Sports Management, but instead the spoils (somewhere approaching £100,000) went to McIlroy's new agency, Horizon.

Yesterday, Conor Ridge, the proud owner of the burgeoning Dublin firm, was here watching McIlroy alongside the world No 1.

No, not Luke Donald (at home in America awaiting the birth of his second daughter) but Caroline Wozniacki, the tennis-playing Dane who flew in on Monday to join her boyfriend.

Iain Carter talked to Rory about the breakup.

"Chubby has been there for me since day one," the 22-year-old told BBC Sport.

"It was very difficult for me - I was very close to him and remain very close to him."

Well let's not get carried away. Rory, too, is citing Corleone family scripture:

"It was a purely business decision and nothing personal at all," he said.

"It's a decision that I didn't take lightly. I had a lot of chats with my mum and dad.

"You know sometimes to go forward in your career you just need to make decisions and I just thought it was a decision I needed to make.

"For four years, Chubby was the best guy and ISM were fantastic for me, but sometimes to progress you need to have a fresh view on things.

"It's about me trying to play my best golf and that's all there is to it. With a new environment around me, it might enable me to play even better."