Rory McIlroy and Nike Confirm 10-Year £150M Sponsorship Deal

Being one of the youngest and most bankable athletes in sports certainly has its advantages. Rory McIlroy, the top-ranked golfer in the world, found that out when he signed a huge sponsorship deal with Nike.  

According to a report from The Guardian, McIlroy's deal with Nike is for 10 years and will pay him up to £150m, depending on how often he wins. 

McIlroy was quoted in the report as saying that he went to Nike after being with Titleist because it is a brand that speaks to him as a young man and athlete:

"

I chose Nike for a number of reasons. It's a company and a brand that really resonates with me. It's young. It's athletic. It's innovative. They are committed to being the best, as am I. Signing with Nike is another step towards living out my dream.

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It is a strong statement by McIlroy that he is still taking steps toward living out his dream. He is just 23 years old, yet is already at the top of the golf standings, holds six career PGA Tour wins, including the 2011 U.S. Open and 2012 PGA Championship. 

When you dream, you might as well dream as big as you can. 

An interesting detail about McIlroy's deal with Nike is that it pairs him up with Tiger Woods, who has been the face of Nike Golf since the company decided to really invest a lot of time and resources into the sport. 

Given the budding rivalry that McIlroy and Woods have, or that we would at least like to believe will develop, this is a major coup for Nike. Having the two best and most recognizable golfers in the world under one roof will make Nike an even bigger force in the golf world. 

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