LONDON - 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 No 3, in an interview with the European Tour's official website on Wednesday, added that there was "nothing personal at all" in the decision that stunned golf.

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