Greetings Golfers,

Have you heard the rumor about Rory McElroy signing with Nike for $250,000,000 for 10 years?

Wow. That’s pretty serious. I’ve never been a big Nike guy. They’ve always seemed a little too slick for me. But, Rory is definitely not Mr. Slick. Rory seems to be a nice, down-to-earth Irish kid. He’s the the perfect new face for golf. Young – but seems like an old soul … not afraid to speak his mind – but not arrogant … from Ireland so Europe loves him, and America relates to him because English is his native tongue.

Oh yeah – he can really play golf. His golf swing is crazy good – it’s perfect – but not rigid or mechanical. And he’s a shot maker. And he can putt. That sort of talent combined with his personality – I can see why Nike would offer him the farm.

This is very good for golf. When a major sports player like Nike decides to make a such power move, it’s a signal that they believe in the future of golf. Maybe, the merger of Rory and Nike can produce the best of both worlds – old-fashioned warmth and realness, combined with modern energy and innovation.

Cheers,

Tom Abts
GM and Head Golf Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com