Golf's world No. 1 Rory McIlroy has signed a deal with Nike that could earn him $250M and make him the second-highest paid British sportsman behind Major League Soccer L.A. Galaxy midfielder David Beckham, according to Malcolm Folley of the London DAILY MAIL. McIlroy has "already earned the first slice by filming a commercial" with world No. 2 Tiger Woods, who "helped broker the deal." Starting in January, the 23-year-old "will replace Woods as the future of Nike's no-money-spared marketing machine." The 10-year contract, which starts at $200M before bonus clauses, rivals Beckham, "who is a leading figure for Nike's rivals adidas and makes roughly $46M annually." Nike "conducted a forensic search" of McIlroy's personal life and found nothing to fear. His romance with tennis player Caroline Wozniacki, a former world No. 1, "only adds to his appeal." News from American sources claimed McIlroy, in the company of Woods, has "shot his first TV advertisement for Nike to broadcast in the new year after the Irishman's current deal with Titleist and Footjoy has expired." The commercial also features two other top golfers who have switched to Nike: Nick Watney and Kyle Stanley (DAILY MAIL, 11/3).
