The details of the case were not outlined at Dublin High Court on Monday, but it is understood to involve a multi-million euro dispute over fees.
It is believed the golfer views the fees charged by Horizon - said to be 7.5m euros (£6.4m) over an 18 month period - as excessive.
The company is set to counter claim.
Horizon is reported to believe it has achieved exceptional results for the golfer, who was not in court.
It is understood the Northern Ireland sports star is trying to recover 7m euros (£5.9m) through the court action.
The fee period under dispute coincided with McIlroy's sponsorship deal with Nike, said to be worth in the region of $100m (£63m).
The 24-year-old golfer was unveiled as Nike's brand ambassador in January this year, making him one of the highest paid sports stars in the world.
At Monday's High Court hearing, the case was fast-tracked to Dublin's Commercial Court, the big business division of the High Court.
A provisional trial date has been set for October 2014.
Rory Also Breaks Up With Tennis Star Wozniacki
For the last two years golfing superstar, Rory McIlroy, and tennis golden girl, Caroline Wozniacki, have been the toast of the glittering sports' circuit but now after distinct dip in McIlroy's form, it has been reported that he has ended the relationship in the hope of getting back on course and retaining his former World Number One status.
Danish star, Miss Wozniacki, 23, who once described McIlroy as her "ideal boyfriend", is said to be "absolutely devastated" by the split having only just patched things up following a previous fall out.
Sources close to the 24-year-old golfing prodigy said there was no way back for their pair this time however, saying he had made his mind up that his game had to come first.
McIlroy, who was born in Holywood, County Down, the only son of a scratch golfer, was introduced him to golf when he was still in nappies.
According to his father, Gerry, he displayed something of his prodigious talent when, at the age of two, he hit a 40-yard drive.
His parents both worked several jobs to help fund the youngster's burgeoning talent, and when he won the junior world championships in Miami at the age of nine, it became clear all their efforts were going to pay dividends.
Turning down the chance of a scholarship at a university in the United States, McIlroy became a professional at the age of 18 and wrote himself into the history books four years later when he won the US open by eight shots.
His success continued the following year when he took the US PGA title by a record eight strokes helping him to eclipse all of his golfing heroes and become the number one ranked player in the world.
Earlier this year he signed a £78 million sponsorship deal with the sports company Nike, making him one of the richest sportsman in the world and when he got together with Miss Wozniacki – a former World number one herself – it appeared that the superstar package was complete.
The pair were regularly snapped at high profile events, and like any young couple in love these days, they used to celebrate their feelings for one another on social networking sites such as Twitter, often posting pictures of one another in amusing poses.
After hitting a rocky patch earlier in the summer, the couple put paid to rumours it was over by posting a picture on Twitter, enjoying breakfast together.
But for the boy from Northern Ireland, who used to practice chipping by knocking balls into his mother's washing machine, the pressure of balancing a celebrity love affair with his world famous swing appears to have become too much.
His form this year has been indifferent, struggling at the Masters in Augusta and recording only one top ten finish all season.
Gary Player the nine-time major winner is certainly of the view that his relationship has had a negative bearing on his game.
He said: "If you're a young man like Rory, you can't play with worries. You can't have managerial problems, you can't have women problems. You've got to be out there and have a free mind.
"And that's why Arnold [Palmer], Jack [Nicklaus] and I won something like 55 majors between us. Because we had three wives that were very, very special."
Confirming that the relationship was over, a source told one Irish newspaper: "Yes they are over. It's a difficult time for them both but it is for the best in the long run."
The source added: "There were a lot of tears. She still has her profile picture on her social-networking site set as the two of them in happier times, but I can tell you the pair are no longer an item," a source told this newspaper.
"Rory has a lot of respect for Caroline and their time together was good, but he feels it's time to move on now. And he wishes her nothing but the best."
Sources: BBC & Daily Telegraph UK
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