McIlroy joins sport's high earners as he pens £150m sponsorship deal with Nike sports

Rory McIlroy is set to become one of the biggest earners in sporting history after confirmation today of a multi-year sponsorship deals with Nike. 

Although the exact length of the deal was not revealed, it is a 10-year contract worth as much as £150million if McIlroy, previously with Titleist, goes on winning majors.

McIlroy will use Nike's full range of clubs, balls, clothing and accessories, with the clubs used competitively for the first time in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship later this week against a field including the other leading golf name in Nike colours, 14-major winner and world No 2 Tiger Woods. 

Rory McIlroy

'I chose Nike for a number of reasons,' McIlroy said. 'It's a company and a brand that really resonates with me. It's young. It's athletic. It's innovative. They are committed to being the best, as am I.

'Signing with Nike is another step towards living out my dream.'

Cindy Davis, president of Nike Golf, added: 'Rory is an extraordinary athlete who creates enormous excitement with his on-course performance while, at the same time, connecting with fans everywhere.'He is the epitome of a Nike athlete and he is joining our team during the most exciting time in Nike Golf's history. We are looking forward to partnering with him to take his remarkable career to the next level. 

Rory McIlroy

'McIlroy, a boy wonder who was the world Under 10 champion in 1998, turned professional in 2007, two months after finishing as the leading amateur in The Open at Carnoustie.

But it was the 2011 US Masters that put him on a new level in terms of fame and popularity.

McIlroy led by four with a round to play and was still out in front at the turn, but in an horrific back-nine meltdown he crashed to an 80 and ended up in only 15th place, 10 shots behind winner Charl Schwartzel.

The sporting world waited to see how long the mental scars would last, and got their answer two months later when he won the US Open by eight shots. 

Rory McIlroy with Girl Friend  Caroline Wozniacki

At just 22 he was the youngest winner of the title since Bobby Jones in 1923. A superstar was born.

'If you are going to talk about someone challenging the record of Jack Nicklaus there's your man," said Padraig Harrington, referring to the Golden Bear's 18 majors.

'At his age he's probably got 100 more majors where he could be competitive. It would give him a great chance.'

Told of the Dubliner's comment and aware of the expectation it would lead to, McIlroy sighed: 'Oh, Paddy, Paddy, Paddy.'

But he has a second major already and it was again achieved by a runaway eight-shot margin at the US PGA Championship last August.

It took him back to the world No 1 spot he had been fighting Luke Donald for most of the year, but with three more tournament victories since then he is now way out at the top of the rankings.

He also has a well-known girlfriend in tennis star Caroline Wozniacki, which has added to McIlroy's celebrity status. 

Rory McIlroy when he was 10

Although Nick Faldo has questioned the decision to switch from Titleist to Nike, McIlroy said in November: 'I think all the manufacturers make great equipment nowadays and it's all very similar.

'A lot of them get their clubs made at the same factories. I don't think it will make any difference.

'I've started the process of trying a few new things. I've tinkered about a little bit with the new ones, enough to feel comfortable going into next season.'

That season is now here and for McIlroy it starts in the desert on Thursday.