Ever since Nike announced its decision to pull out of the golf equipment industry last August, one of the most-asked questions of Rory McIlroy in the lead-up to tournaments was which clubs he intended to use for the four rounds.
Those questions can now be put to bed for at least a decade. The four-time Major winner has signed a 10-year deal with TaylorMade, worth a whopping $100 million to the Northern Irishman.
McIlroy will use TaylorMade clubs, balls and golf bags - all of this while wearing Nike apparel as part of his recently extended $200 million clothing deal. In essence, between equipment and clothes, both contracts are worth $300 million to the former World no.1.
Confirmation of the TaylorMade deal arrived at Sawgrass, where the Players Championship tees off this Thursday. The Guardian reports that it's the biggest financial commitment TaylorMade has ever made to a golfer.
McIlroy had spent most of 2017 to date alternating between Callaway and TaylorMade clubs. It was the balls, however, which he claimed swayed him in the latter's direction:
I tested different combinations, a lot of different stuff, and I came to the conclusion that this was the best way forward for me to try and improve, try and win more, try to get back to world No1, try to win more majors.
I tested quite a few balls and the one that I landed on was really it; the ball was what led me to this point because this is the best ball I’ve ever hit. Then it was just about trying to match everything up to that.
Having used a Titleist ball at The Masters, McIlroy has remained adamant that he wished to get comfortable before signing on the dotted line with any particular brand.
He joins stars such as Jason Day and Dustin Johnson as a TaylorMade-sponsored golfer.
