Rory McIlroy: eye on the prize.
The courtship is at an end, people.
World No1 Rory McIlroy has signed an endorsement contract with Nike believed to be worth in excess of $200 million.
Fox Sports’ Robert Lusetich confirmed the deal earlier this afternoon, adding that the 23-year-old has already filmed his first commercial for the equipment manufacturer:
“The personable young Northern Irishman appears in the ad alongside the man who helped recruit him to Nike, Tiger Woods.
“The two banter while hitting the company’s new red driver and marvel at how far they’re hitting the ball.
“The commercial also features two other long-hitting golfers, Nick Watney and Kyle Stanley, who have also made the switch to Nike as the company beefs up what has been a disappointing roster.”
Sounds amazing.*
I take it the “banter” will be a little more polite than that which made it to air during the pair’s Chinese exhibition earlier this week?
No word yet on when McIlroy is scheduled to make his first appearance in full Nike regalia or quite what effect the new clubs will have on his game, but remember: Sir Nick has already raised the spectre of fiery career implosion.
Conor Nagle
* sarcasm
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Be interesting to see what deal includes. If it’s 20/yr for hat, bag, clothing you’re talking Phil territory – and for a lot of yrs, not bad. Biggest risk is the yrs, if something happens to Rory, nike takes a bath & if he starts winning like Tiger, he prob could have gotten more.
A great coup for Nike that’s for sure. Having Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy using the same equipment is just massive.
Be interesting to see how Rory plays with the new equipment as not doubt the world of golf will be watching intently.
A career implosion over changing equipment? Faldo, please… You could hand McIlroy a bag of MacGregor blades, Louisville wooden woods, and a Calamity Jane putter from 1932 and he’d still wipe the floor with most of the players on the PGA Tour.
A lot of people dump on Nike equipment and talk about the “Nike Curse” that supposedly derailed Duval, but, honestly, Nike equipment is some of the best performing stuff out there. Their metal woods are sweet (besides, modern woods are more about the shaft than the head at this point). Nike’s players irons are forged by Endo (just like Callaway, TM, Titleist, Cobra, etc.) so feel-wise switching irons won’t be a big deal; and I’m sure Nike will put whatever grind Mac wants on his irons. Same goes for wedges – Nike can just duplicate whatever Vokey grinds Mac is comfortable with.
To me, the trickiest piece of equipment to switch is the putter, both because it’s the most frequently used club and the most personal. I wouldn’t be surprised if Mac continues to use his Scotty Cameron for a while or even indefinitely – a lot of equipment contracts don’t force guys to play every single club from the manufacturer.