Rory McIlroy signed a $100M deal with TaylorMade to "use the firm's clubs, ball and golf bag for the next decade," according to Ewan Murray of the London GUARDIAN. McIlroy had been without an equipment contract since the end of last year when Nike announced it was to "withdraw from that market." Confirmation of McIlroy's new branding -- he recently signed a 10-year extension to a Nike apparel agreement worth $200M -- "arrived at the Players Championship." TaylorMade's deal is believed to be its "biggest fiscal commitment to any golfer." McIlroy said, "I tested different combinations, a lot of different stuff, and I came to the conclusion that this was the best way forward for me to try and improve, try and win more, try to get back to world No. 1, try to win more majors." McIlroy had spent the early part of '17 "alternating between TaylorMade and Callaway clubs." He also played with a Titleist ball. An "all-in equipment deal was always likely" but McIlroy had been "adamant he would have to be fully comfortable with tools at his disposal before putting pen to paper." McIlroy will use TaylorMade M2 woods, prototype blade irons and the TP5x ball (GUARDIAN, 5/9).
