Nike cans golf equipment sparking uncertainty for Rory McIlroy sponsorship
Nike has called time on its golf equipment business to concentrate instead on clothes and shoes, throwing the brand’s £150 million deal with Rory McIlroy into doubt.
The US sports giant said it will stop making clubs, balls and bags but “accelerate innovation” in golf footwear and apparel.
Despite blockbuster deals with Tiger Woods and McIlroy, Nike’s golf business has struggled, with sales down 8% this year amid waning interest in the sport on home turf.
Woods’ absence over the past year and McIlroy’s recent dip in form haven’t helped.
Neither has the growth of rival Under Armour, which has 2015’s top golfer Jordan Spieth on its books. Adidas has put most of its golf business up for sale.
Though Nike golfers will need to find new clubs, Nike Golf president Daric Ashford remained positive about their influence. “Athletes like Tiger, Rory and Michelle [Wie] drive tremendous energy for the game and inspire consumers worldwide.”
McIlroy signed up with Nike in 2013. At the time the 10-year tie-up was thought to be worth around £150 million depending on the North Irishman’s performance.
The bet paid off in 2014 when he won both The Open and the US PGA Championship, but major success has since dried up. Last weekend he failed to make the cut for the final rounds of the 2016 PGA Championship.
