Rory McIlroy leaves Titleist and could be set for huge sponsorship deal with Tiger Woods at Nike

One of the worst-kept secrets in golf is halfway to completion after Rory McIlroy and his equipment sponsors Titleist parted ways, paving the way for a big-money move to Nike.

Change

"I have enjoyed five very exciting and successful years with the company and I will always appreciate the contribution Titleist has made in helping me become the player I am today." The only question now seems to be the size of the contract McIlroy will receive, with most reports suggesting a 10-year contract worth around £15 million a year will be on the table from sportswear giants Nike. McIlroy won four times in 2012 including at the USPGA Championship when he recorded his second major win by eight shots, and his undoubted talent make him the most marketable golfer since Woods himself came onto the scene. Having the top two players in the world would be a huge coup for Nike, who are relative newcomers to the club manufacturer market but have put a lot of money into that area in recent years and regularly get the likes of Woods to advise them on technical improvements. Switching clubs can be a huge risk, but McIlroy will have a thorough testing process before signing on the dotted line and modern technology means clubs can be tailored for a player's every need, although it remains to be seen if he will in fact be sporting the famous Nike swoosh in the future.