Rory moving to Nike...?

by princedracula Fri 19 Oct 2012, 4:32 pm

First topic message reminder :

No, not yeat, anyway... But the rumours are now mounting and people are throwing around all sorts of numbers.

http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/news-files/2012/10/18/rory-to-nike-i-hadnt-even-heard-that.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+IrishGolfDesk+%28Irish+Golf+Desk%29

This is not the first time I come across this figure in recent weeks... $250,000,000 for 10 years !!!!!

Is he worth it? Does it matter? Anyone knows what kind of deal Tiger had with Nike at his peak and how it compares to this?

Can't say for sure this will happen, but the reality is that his Titleist deal comes to an end at the end of this year, and by January we shall find out for sure...

by dynamark Mon 22 Oct 2012, 1:35 pm

Some of that top end golf gear is stupendously expensive.You look at the product think thats decent and then turn over the price tag..what!
The pub golf thing is quite popular now,Not exactly promoting the game though.

by super_realist Mon 22 Oct 2012, 1:36 pm

I don't think they are innovating though and not sure they ever have in their golf clothing. There have always been companies in Golf who have made better quality clothing.

Nike's own trouble and downfall is their mainstream position.
They've tried the same in Winter Sports too, trying to take on the likes of Burton, Bonfire, Special Blend etc, but it seems people don't like Johnny Come Lately's in certain sports and they failed dismally and those people who garnered an interest in Golf via Woods like sheep flocked to Nike, not so sure they remain loyal though.

They are at a Wilson Staff level of popularity now, dwindling popularity and fairly average gear.

Adidas have been in golf longer than Nike though.

by Roller_Coaster Mon 22 Oct 2012, 1:47 pm

Of (IMO) the more directly comparable manufacturers I would say Puma and Adidas are thought of as "cooler" sportswear manufacturers than Nike these days. But I think that was a very conscious directional call by the Germans (and I'm not saying it in relation to golf specific gear which is generally painfully uncool!). The "designer" type brands like J Lindberg seem to be at the (excuse the pun) fore these days.

I do agree that Nike seem to have lost their way in recent years in terms of what they intend to be. For a while they tried to produce the best equipment for the best player(s) in seemingly every sport they turned their hand to, but they do just seem to be swanning along, almost just ticking over while the competition puts a shift in.

For golf, Tiger was perfect for Nike at the time. He got better, their stuff got better. He got bigger, they got bigger. But now, they've held on too long and seem to be mirror his recent career profile. Whilst still big business, surely Woods and Federer are moving away from peak marketability (without even considering off-course Tiger). Unless they're simply too expensive to shift on...

by super_realist Mon 22 Oct 2012, 1:50 pm

There was a rumour that Nine Chins was on his way to Bridgestone, never happened of course.

Good assessment though Roller, they seem to be on the wane somewhat, perhaps their projected income diminishing with Nine Chins advancing years.

by Diggers Mon 22 Oct 2012, 2:14 pm

As far as I can see Woods and Coco arer the only golfers who transcend the sport to any degree , and Coco barely does it in relation to Woods.
The game is lacking stardust these days.

by super_realist Mon 22 Oct 2012, 2:16 pm

I'm not sure a sport requires people to transcend it. Does it need stardust?
Golf is not exactly on it's ar$e.

by hend085 Mon 22 Oct 2012, 2:17 pm

how much do callaway pay Phil Mick? would have thought he was on a fair wad

by super_realist Mon 22 Oct 2012, 2:19 pm

Didn't they pay off his substantial gambling debts?

by JAS Mon 22 Oct 2012, 3:50 pm

Ashamed to say my golf wardrobe is actually bigger than my everything else wardrobe. I've always found Nike clothing very comfortable and functional, I tend to go for either Nike or Stromberg trousers, I 'm noting that I'm picking up a few under Armour shirts now too. Favourite shirts at the moment (and they can make the transition beyond the golf course/club without looking golfy) are Boss. I feel a golf fashion thread coming on Wink

With regard to a potential Rory/Nike hook up, that will send a shiver down the Tiggers spine, there won't be 2 top dogs in the Nike stable (well kennel).

by incontinentia Mon 22 Oct 2012, 4:02 pm

super_realist wrote:Didn't they pay off his substantial gambling debts?

That was John Daly.

by super_realist Mon 22 Oct 2012, 4:04 pm

Mickelson too.

by incontinentia Mon 22 Oct 2012, 4:10 pm

Mickelson a gambler?? There's a surprise

by twoeightnine Mon 22 Oct 2012, 5:02 pm

Got to agree with the above with regard to Nike. I think that people who play golf reasonably seriously tend to look down on their products but I see their market as more the occasional golfer and previously the younger ones too. While Tiger appeals to the occasional golfer I cannot see that he hits the younger market. Do they have a Ricky Fowler or Camilio that younger kids may relate to? I guess that is why the Rory rumour has wheels.

Certainly seeing Tiger in his baggy chinos and crap trainers doesn't make me want to wear their stuff. And I'm older than him.

Addias stuff is a bit too sporty (shiny) for my liking but their Ashworth stuff is nice as are some of their Footjoy shoes. I did like Puma but they seem to have gone orange lately. Lindeberg, etc would be my brands of choice (if I was using someone else's wallet)

by Roller_Coaster Tue 23 Oct 2012, 9:11 am

I actually really like(d) Nike clubs. My old set of pro combo irons were great. Still in very good nick and would consider going back to them in a couple of years if I can get the right shafts in them. Really liked the Ignite driver too. Had an sq 3 wood (a bit high launch for me but looked nice at address) and at one point a superb little hybrid. Think they tried to go a bit "fashion" since those clubs were around though (square driver anyone?), although the current blades do look nice.

The One Platinum balls were excellent too IMO, but I don't seem to get on with the 20XI.

Argh - maybe it's me! Nothing is as good as it was the old days. I remember when it was all fields round here etc

This is most concerning, especially as Nike have almost no heritage to speak of, let alone get sentimental about. I shall sit in a dark cupboard until the next "revolutionary" set of Taylormade woods come out.

OK - I'm back!

by Roller_Coaster Tue 23 Oct 2012, 2:59 pm

Apologies - I didn't realise that the next Taylormade revolution in clubs was (a) today and (b) irons not woods.

Apparently the Rocketbladez (yurggghhh!) irons are (surprise surprise) longer and better than anything else in the world ever ever ever volume 3.

by SmithersJones Tue 23 Oct 2012, 3:02 pm

And don't they look ugly? Interesting that they've gone for a kind of combination set, including wedges.

by Roller_Coaster Tue 23 Oct 2012, 3:14 pm

Too true.

Bet the wedges have lofts of 38, 41 or something like that and the adverts will be full of joe public golfers amazed at hitting wedge 20 yards further than previous wedge. 5 iron goes as far as 5 wood does etc.

by **navyblueshorts** Tue 23 Oct 2012, 8:01 pm

Roller_Coaster wrote:...I shall sit in a dark cupboard until the next "revolutionary" set of Taylormade woods come out.

OK - I'm back!

by **navyblueshorts** Tue 23 Oct 2012, 8:09 pm

Rocketbladez?? Seriously? I think TM have taken over the 'trousers-round-the-arse-teenage-golfer' market from Nike.
They look pretty hideous for one thing and I don't believe for a second that they have the following 'sweet spot' cf. a 'traditional' iron:

Spoiler:

by **navyblueshorts** Tue 23 Oct 2012, 8:17 pm

And another thing - re. the Wankbladez irons, what are the authorities doing??? Get a handle on these technological advances(?) before they go global!

by GWR-Golfer Tue 23 Oct 2012, 9:08 pm

I haven't posted for a while - although I have been reading the posts....

Looks like Rory will be like Woods - paid by Nike but using Titleist

loads-a-money

by princedracula Tue 23 Oct 2012, 9:58 pm

Many think that all this 'bromance' that errupted suddenly between Rory and Tiger has something to do with this alleged Rory-Nike deal that may happen soon...

Haven't seen anybody giving too much of a chance to anybody other than Nike in this, but I'd say there would be at least a couple of reasons why someone like TaylorMade could still be in it wth a shout...

First of all, if you look purely at the golf market and sales, this is how TaylorMade and NikeGolf compare over the past 5 years or so...

Spoiler:

So, TM is obviously at least twice as big when it comes to golf sales. But then of course, at least for Nike, this is not only about golf... A deal like this would be good to reinvigorate those falling golf sales, but also for their global brand in general. However, the point that I've seen being made that someone like TM wouldn't have the financial clout to come up with that kind of money it's only partially true, considering that TaylorMade are owned by Adidas...

- Nike's total sales last year ~$20.8bln
- Adidas total sales last year ~$17.5bln

So, not such a big difference in there, the only problem for TM would be that the two brands (TM and Adidas) are kind of separated in the market place, and it's hard to see how Adidas would benefit as a global brand from a deal with Rory as much as Nike would...

Finally, another little detail that would work in TM/Adidas's favour is Ms Wozzilroy, who is very much an Adidas girl from what I know, and having those two together under their arm, would work very nicely for Adidas, I'm sure...

So what will it be in the end, a 'bromance' or a true romance...?!

by kwinigolfer Tue 23 Oct 2012, 10:16 pm

Rory can scarf up some of the money Nike supplied to Lance Armstrong.

We all have our favourite sports equipment suppliers, can't stand Nike for some reason, partly due to their product sourcing.
Always had adidas stuff as a lad living in Germany, always prefer adidas/Ashworth now, all other things being equal.

pd,
Remember Caro's branching out with her own designs, quite apart from her designs on Rory. Not sure which marketer she works with . . . . . .

by SmithersJones Tue 23 Oct 2012, 10:24 pm

One thing about the prospect of his going to Nike - they like their players to be Nike head to foot. He's got deals going with Oakley, for shirts and glasses, and of course Jamierah (sp?). He's been fairly tight lipped about the prospect of this deal, but has said the money doesn't bother him, only trophies. If that's really true, he may well go to TM or even stay with Titleist.

by GWR-Golfer Tue 23 Oct 2012, 10:26 pm

SmithersJones wrote:One thing about the prospect of his going to Nike - they like their players to be Nike head to foot. He's got deals going with Oakley, for shirts and glasses, and of course Jamierah (sp?). He's been fairly tight lipped about the prospect of this deal, but has said the money doesn't bother him, only trophies. If that's really true, he may well go to TM or even stay with Titleist.

Don't be silly - he will take the money Shocked

by princedracula Tue 23 Oct 2012, 10:27 pm

Same here, kwini, in general I like Adidas stuff more...

kwinigolfer wrote:Remember Caro's branching out with her own designs...

I know, have to admit I had a peek once at her new line of undies... Whistle

by kwinigolfer Tue 23 Oct 2012, 10:29 pm

How did they fit??? Run

by princedracula Tue 23 Oct 2012, 10:38 pm

Just too tight for me, I'm a boxers' kind of guy... Smile

by 1GrumpyGolfer Tue 23 Oct 2012, 10:42 pm

princedracula wrote:

kwinigolfer wrote:Remember Caro's branching out with her own designs...
I know, have to admit I had a peek once at her new line of undies...

Was she wearing them at the time or were they with other pairs in her chest of drawers? Whistle

by incontinentia Wed 24 Oct 2012, 6:59 pm

by princedracula Wed 24 Oct 2012, 7:48 pm

If you refer to the Irish Times story today, I think what he says is that he rules out the Nike deal talk, not the Nike deal itself...

http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/golf/2012/1024/1224325659504.html

by Slowride Wed 24 Oct 2012, 8:17 pm

princedracula wrote:If you refer to the Irish Times story today, I think what he says is that he rules out the Nike deal talk, not the Nike deal itself

thats irish

what bothers me is he is leaving all these deals to his advisors doesn't he realize his advisors are dictating his equipment for next year?

i bet his advisors could get him a great deal sponsoring penfold commandos

by incontinentia Wed 24 Oct 2012, 10:38 pm

princedracula wrote:If you refer to the Irish Times story today, I think what he says is that he rules out the Nike deal talk, not the Nike deal itself...

http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/golf/2012/1024/1224325659504.html

apologies, i just read the headline, looked like he was ruling out rumours of a nike deal.

by Diggers Thu 25 Oct 2012, 9:53 am

incontinentia wrote:
princedracula wrote:If you refer to the Irish Times story today, I think what he says is that he rules out the Nike deal talk, not the Nike deal itself...

http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/golf/2012/1024/1224325659504.html
apologies, i just read the headline, looked like he was ruling out rumours of a nike deal.

Big story about the Nike deal in todays Times. Seemed to think it would be announced when both him and Woods play on the European Tour in January (Dubai?). Apparently Woods has just signed with them again so its the whole bromance thing with Woods and Coco they will be selling I guess. They are certainly by a country mile the two biggest names in the sport and probably the two best players.

by super_realist Thu 25 Oct 2012, 10:00 am

I'd rather sign for Gola than Nike. At least there is an irony about them.

by Diggers Thu 25 Oct 2012, 10:08 am

Super, you live in Scotland though you hate it because of the money. Im pretty sure you'd sign for Nike rather than Gola because of the money.
Gola wont be paying Rory £15m a year anytiome soon will they.

by super_realist Thu 25 Oct 2012, 10:18 am

If I was as rich as Woods or McIlroy, i.e where another 30 million is of no consequence I doubt I'd suckling at the teet of Nike, just to have more money that I won't live long enough to spend.

I'd go for something amusing like Penfold.

by Bob_the_Job Thu 25 Oct 2012, 10:20 am

I wonder how much sales of Nike goods have to rise by to generate an additional net profit of more than £15m a year? Given some of the revelations about Nike's employment practices, probably not as much as some other brands.

by Diggers Thu 25 Oct 2012, 10:28 am

super_realist wrote:If I was as rich as Woods or McIlroy, i.e where another 30 million is of no consequence I doubt I'd suckling at the teet of Nike, just to have more money that I won't live long enough to spend.

I'd go for something amusing like Penfold.

As we know life doenst work that way. All the top players bar none have spponsorship deals and look to earn extra cash they dont need. I remember Ernie whinging about being tired at the end of the season but having to play the end of year events for the money...hello Ernie, what are you worth, a mere £50m or so.
Maybe Rory wants his own jet, who knows.

by super_realist Thu 25 Oct 2012, 10:35 am

Would a company like Nike who have an image problem in golf really be able t pay substantially more than the likes of TM to make it an irrestible move? If someone offers £25m a year and your current sponsor offers £22. Would it really make much of a difference to change your well proven gear for a marginal gain?

by Bob_the_Job Thu 25 Oct 2012, 11:23 am

super_realist wrote:.. If someone offers £25m a year and your current sponsor offers £22. Would it really make much of a difference to change your well proven gear for a marginal gain?

Logic suggests not, history and evidence suggests it does, otherwise we wouldn't have this thread.

by super_realist Thu 25 Oct 2012, 12:33 pm

I suppose for the likes of Westwood though a bit of loyalty hasn't done him or his bank balance much harm. Sure he could have gone elsewhere when at the top of his game

by Bob_the_Job Thu 25 Oct 2012, 12:40 pm

super_realist wrote:I suppose for the likes of Westwood though a bit of loyalty hasn't done him or his bank balance much harm. Sure he could have gone elsewhere when at the top of his game

True, although I don't think brand Westwood ever had the same cachet as Woods or McIlroy so maybe he wasn't inundated with offers.

However my point was more along the lines of when you're not mega rich like I assume we're both not, you often imagine you'd be satisfied with X and not look for X+more. All the evidence of footballers, golfers, business people etc suggests that when they are mega rich, they mostly strive for even more, even though the ordinary people like us wonder what in hell they want more for. Human nature I guess. When I'm mega-rich, I'll let you know from that perspective.

by super_realist Thu 25 Oct 2012, 1:13 pm

Probably true Bob.

by SmithersJones Fri 26 Oct 2012, 11:37 pm

Mary posted this on the 'other side'. From the horse's mouth, so to speak;

Previous response from Tom Sites, head of product creation at Nike, re the rumours that Tiger's clubs are Miura forged irons:-

"I’ve heard that for a number of years now and I welcome the chance to respond to it. Never in the past, not now, not ever, will any of the Nike irons that Tiger plays be forged Miura products, that’s a fact. What has created some of this confusion is, prior to my joining Nike Golf, that I actually did consulting design work for Mr. Miura.

So he was one of my clients during my independent phase and he’s a wonderful gentleman. He makes an incredibly good product and we helped him develop some things for the North American market and developed that relationship. Some people have taken that and kind of embellished and exaggerated it to think that we might actually be using his product or his clubs for Tiger and any of our Tour professionals.

That’s just not the case. We built some base rough forgings at the Cornell Company in Chicago originally. From those blank forgings, we had a machine to build out Tiger’s prototypes and other clubs since the beginning of Nike Golf. Ever since then we’ve taken those to a production headquarters I worked with when I was back at the Hogan company and we’ve gone down a unique and individual path to market for all the Nike products that did not include Mr. Miura.

I wish him well but there’s just simply no truth to the fact that Nike products have been manufactured by or indeed been created in any part of Mr. Miura’s iron lab."

by SmithersJones Tue 30 Oct 2012, 11:56 am

The race is now official. Titleist have announced that Rors won't be playing their kit next year.

by beninho Tue 30 Oct 2012, 2:54 pm

Who says Nike have got an image problem in golf? What is this based on?

Sounds like Rory is making a great deal, will it make any real difference overall what clubs he plays. Just go with the highest bidder.

by super_realist Tue 30 Oct 2012, 3:28 pm

beninho wrote:Who says Nike have got an image problem in golf? What is this based on?

Sounds like Rory is making a great deal, will it make any real difference overall what clubs he plays. Just go with the highest bidder.

They certainly do have an image problem, dowdy, old hat, style-less gear, just look at who they kit out Stewart Cink and Nine Chins Woods. Some of the worst dressed players on tour.

As for whether it makes a difference to the clubs. Ask G Fat, Phil Mick, Ernie, Monty etc how changing clubs takes a period of adjustment.

by hend085 Tue 30 Oct 2012, 3:32 pm

i dont understand how people reckon G Mac is crap since he moved to srixon. the stats dont back it up at all.

by super_realist Tue 30 Oct 2012, 3:34 pm

He struggled for a few months. Hendo, could have been a coincidence of course, probably as many examples of people not changing gear and still struggling. I suppose people tend to use it as an excuse.

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