Then, in August 2016, about three years into his five year deal, Nike decided to get out of the golf clubs, balls, and bags business altogether. He would still wear Nike hats, shoes, gloves and clothes, but this left McIlroy free to seek a new sponsorship for the golf basics. And boy, did he ever land a big one! McIlroy signed a long-term deal with Taylormade to use their bag, clubs, and golf balls. He’s excited about the new deal, too. In an interview just before The Players Championship he said: McIlroy finished seventh at the Masters in April and decided then that he needed to change the equipment he was using. He wasn’t happy with the golf ball he was using, so he spent about 10 days testing different balls and equipment. One stood out from the pack – the Taylormade ball. Rory, who just turned 28, has signed a $100 million, 10-year deal with Taylormade. That’s $10 million a year that he otherwise would never have been able to earn without any reduction in his Nike deal. Not bad for an accidental payday! Now that he’s suitably outfitted, McIlroy is seeking a return to the world No. 1 ranking and add to his four majors titles.
