Rory McIlroy Signs First Major Sponsorship Deal Since U.S. Open With Santander

Santander UK today announced a new sponsorship of golfer Rory McIlroy that will "cost well over £1m annually over several years," according to Mark Kleinman of SKY SPORTS. The bank's name will "appear on McIlroy's golf clothing," and he will "appear in a forthcoming TV ad campaign" (SKY.com, 9/21). In London, Ben Smith reports the deal was brokered by ISM's Chubby Chandler and "is the first big deal that McIlroy has signed since his US Open victory." The bank's logo will be on McIlroy's shirt sleeves, and Jumeirah "will continue to be his main sponsor alongside Oakley." McIlroy has "already shot a series of TV commercials with Santander," which also sponsors F1 drivers Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton (LONDON TIMES, 9/22).