Jumeirah Group ends sponsorship with McIlroy
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World number one golfer Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland at the Brisbane International tennis tournament on Dec 31, 2012. Jumeirah Group has announced that it is not renewing its five-year sponsorship deal with top ranked McIlroy, ahead of an expected announcement that he will sign with Nike next week. -- PHOTO: AFP
DUBAI (AP) - Jumeirah Group has announced that it is not renewing its five-year sponsorship deal with top ranked Rory McIlroy, ahead of an expected announcement that he will sign with Nike next week.
The United Arab Emirates hotel group signed a five-year deal with McIlroy when he was only 18 and was one of his first corporate sponsors.
Jumeirah's announcement allows McIlroy to pursue a lucrative endorsement contract, with strong indications that he will sign with Nike in a deal that one industry observer estimated at US$20 million (S$24.6 million) a year.
That would give Nike golf's two biggest stars in McIlroy and Tiger Woods, who has been with the sportswear company since he turned pro in 1996.
