World number one Rory McIlroy joins Tiger Woods at Nike

Rory McIlroy has been unveiled as Nike's new brand ambassador at a special media conference in the Fairmont Bab Al Bahr Hotel in Abu Dhabi.

Celebrity status

With Danish tennis star Caroline Wozniacki his partner for the past 18 months, McIlroy's celebrity status has grown even more. Having changed girlfriends, McIlroy then changed managers 14 months ago, leaving the same stable as Lee Westwood and Darren Clarke to join Dublin-based Horizon Sports. His close friend Graeme McDowell had been the leading client on their books, but now, of course, McIlroy is in a league of his own. In demand the world over, he has had to learn the art of saying "No" at times, but was unlikely to do that when Nike made their approach. Although Nick Faldo has questioned the decision to switch from Titleist, 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.