07/22/2014 09:54
Out with the Tiger.
As professional golf sees a changing of the guard amidst its upper-echelon, Nike is finally starting to find greater returns on its investment icon.
McIlroy 's success makes him only the third man in the history to win 3 of the 4 major championships by the ripe old age of golf.
The other two? Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods, with the latter being responsible for Nike's ascendance within the golf genre over the last 18 years.
Really, Tiger Woods and his accumulation of 14 major tournaments and 2008 set Nike Golf on the map.
But with the vision that Woods had maybe peaked in light of physical and emotional injuries incurred over the last six years, Nike sensibly determined to bring Mr. McIlroy into their fray to make sure that they would be working with the game's perceived top star of the future.
And when McIlroy was signed by them, they could n't be blamed by you for that expectation. Rory won his first major (U.S. Open) in 2011 in field-shattering manner at age 21, and then another dominant performance at the PGA Championship in 2012 at age 22 for his second piece of hardware.
But after signing a deal with Nike that industry pros peg at roughly $20-25 million per annum, McIlroy struggled badly in 2013. It could have been switching to new Nike golf clubs, it could have been his high profile romance with tennis star Caroline Wozniacki, or it could have simply been the pressure put on himself to live up to a standard he felt was aligned with his inflated status as a product endorser and sports idol.
Whatever harassed his match in 2013 is absolutely a moot point now.
With Sunday's win, McIlroy stands just one Masters success from becoming the man that is 6th in the history of golf.
Quite exalted company but youthful Rory presented his exalted abilities at Royal Liverpool. Gifts which induced Nike to invest so heavily in his future skill to improve the Nike Golf brand in the start of 2013.
What do Tiger say? Out with the old, in with nike blazer high womens.-blazer-high-mens-nike-shoes-uk-online/best-nike-blazers-high-white-black-mens-shoes.html">nike blazers high mens white and black .he new?
With Woods' finishing an ocean-sized stroke difference from actually competing on the weekend (coupled with continuing health issues Rory has combated with knees and his back), today's Open Championship may actually mark the changing of the guard.
And to the extent Nike Golf found both things coming 18 months ago (e.g. Tiger's less cheap nike blazers for sale.roductive play, Rory's third major), they should be feeling good about their golf investments of late.
