Could this be Rory McIlroy’s Big New Club Deal?

Two weeks have passed since Nike announced they will no longer produce golf products other than clothing, and many have been speculating as to what currently signed Nike players will do once their contracts have reached full term. For one athlete, the uncertainty has ended with an unprecedented equipment contract executed just last night.

For the 2017-2021 seasons, Rory McIlroy has come to terms with Little Tikes, the leader in polycarbonate resin formed composite one piece golf clubs.  While final dollars and cents figures have not been made public, a press conference held this morning confirmed that the current world #4 ranked golfer will in fact be playing with the ultralight sticks.

“I’m excited and honored to be partnering with and representing such a world class organization,” McIlroy said at the meet and greet held in Palm Beach Gardens at Rory’s US home course.  “We’ve had a bit of time to prepare since they [Nike] let us know that they would cease making clubs.  Ever since we’ve known about the end our era with Nike, we’ve been looking for the perfect fit for my position of the club face at impact.”

The four time major winner had reportedly been courted extensively by a myriad of companies, most notably staple clubmakers Taylormade and Ping.  In fact, Rory had almost signed on to play the M2 and a set of iBlades in the bag.  Rory’s caddie and trusted confidant, J.P. Fitzgerald, had a major hand in the final decision.

When asked how such an unconventional club entered the list of options, J.P. replied without reservation.  “Look, I’m out there every friggin’ day, slugging up and down the links listening to the little man whine about not winning this, or missing the cut on that.  You think hauling all his gear in that staff bag on my back makes me feel any better after he gets done trying to dig a damn hole halfway to China with a 56 degree ­then crying to me about it?  Think about it, mate.  3 pounds.  That’s counting a full box of balls and the umbrella.”

Fitzgerald added, “The funny thing is, he hits the ball further and straighter with the utility driver­fairway­iron­wedge.  He’s topping out at 428, albeit not quite as far as with the Vapor, but averaging 395.  And that mallet?  Lights out from 75 ft and in.”

Little Tikes vice president of operations Bill Cofield expressed his optimism for the upcoming seasons by saying “We’re absolutely thrilled to have Rory on Team Tike.  We couldn’t have been blessed more with the timing and merit of this historic deal.  This is the big break we’ve been looking for to get into the world of championship caliber golf equipment.”
When pressed for possible other players signing with the company, Cofield refused further comment. “We’re not going to publicly comment on or allude to deals that haven’t been formalized.” He later added that Little Tikes was “looking forward to continued negotiations with other current tour players. *cough, cough* Tiger Woods *cough, cough*.”

Cover Photo via Wikipedia