Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy were already heated rivals on the golf course, and now they’ll fight it out for the heart of Nike Inc.
ESPN is reporting that Nike has signed McIlroy to a $200 million endorsement deal.
“I chose Nike for a number of reasons,” McIlroy said. “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.”
McIlroy is currently the #1 ranked golfer in the world, and the man currently dominating golf. The deal was announced during a lavish ceremony in the United Arab Emirates ahead of the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship.
Nike can now say it has endorsement deals with golf’s two biggest stars and competitors.