Sign the world’s best golfer, again? Nike just did it, according to ESPN.
The world No.1 has seemingly dropped an endorsement bombshell, with the US sports website reporting the Aussie has inked a new $10 million-a-year shoe and apparel deal with giant Nike.
Day, whose contract with TaylorMade-Adidas is up at the end of the year, became a target of Nike when Adidas – TaylorMade’s parent company – announced it wanted to sell the club manufacturer several months ago. Meanwhile, Nike also offloaded its golf club manufacturing arm.
The terms of Day’s contract have not been disclosed, but ESPN sources report the deal is in excess of $10 million ($AU13 million) a year. Former world No.1 Rory McIlroy was believed to have signed a $250 million deal over 10 years.
According to ESPN’s Darren Rovell, the 2015 US PGA Champion would continue to play TaylorMade clubs and golf ball while wearing Nike shoes, clothing and hat.
This would also mean Day is likely to have sponsor Concur (a tax expense filing software app) on his golf bag as Nike traditionally does not allow golfers to have any sponsors on their polo shirts. Day currently has NetJets, Lexus, Concur and RBC Heritage on his Adidas shirt.
The world’s biggest sports shoe and apparel company is undoubtedly after a consistent golfer within the world’s top ranks and haven’t found that in either Tiger Woods or Rory McIlroy. The 28-year-old Queenslander however, would likely give Nike plenty of Sunday exposure at Major championships having finished in the top 10 in six of the past eight Majors – the same amount of grand slams since a Nike endorser won a major. It is the company’s longest Major drought since 2003/04. Woods’ last US PGA Tour win came more than three years ago.
You know what this means? An awesome Nike commercial featuring Day is coming.
