Jason Day, the world's top-ranked golfer, has signed an endorsement deal with Nike to "wear its shoes and apparel, including its hat," according to Darren Rovell of ESPN.com. Terms of the Nike deal were not disclosed, but a source said that Day "will get paid north of $10 million a year." Day also "re-signed with TaylorMade" as his equipment sponsor, as that contract was "up at the end of the year." Rovell notes players who use TaylorMade clubs "usually get paired with Adidas shoes and apparel," but that "has changed as Adidas, amidst continued consumer pressure in the golf business, is selling its golf business." Nike "hopes to find more relevance" during the final round of majors with Day, as a Nike endorser has not won a major since Rory McIlroy claimed the '14 PGA Championship. Since that time, Day has won one major ('15 PGA) and finished in the top 10 in three others. With Tiger Woods sitting out the '15-16 PGA Tour season and McIlroy's game "not up to par, Nike has had to push Brooks Koepka as its next name at retail" (ESPN.com, 9/13). Golf Digest's Brian Wacker writes the Day-Nike partnership is "hardly a surprise," as Nike "was always a major player/likely landing spot" for him. Writer Ryan Ballengee notes Nike reps "were telling their customers of Day's signing dating back to late August/early Sept" (TWITTER.com, 9/13).
