<p>World number one golfer Rory McIlroy praised the clubs of his new sponsor Nike in Abu Dhabi, UAE on Monday (January 14) after agreeing to a multi-year sponsorship deal with the U.S. sportswear firm.<br /><br />Although commercial terms were not disclosed, media reports say the agreement with McIlroy is worth as much as $250 million over 10 years - one of the most lucrative in global sports - as Nike moves on after dropping disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong last year.<br /><br />23 year-old McIlroy was previously sponsored by golf brand Titleist.<br /><br />The U.S. PGA champion visited Nike's research and development facility in Fort Worth, Texas, in late 2012 to try out his new clubs and ball.<br /><br />He said the sponsorship deal was about improving his game rather than the money.<br /><br />"I'm world number one which I've always dreamed of being. I feel like this is a company which can help me sustain that and win even more majors, so I play for titles, I don't play for money," he said.<br /><br />The twice major winner topped the tournament earnings lists in both the United States and Europe last year.<br /><br />Nike is also a long-time sponsor of world number two Tiger Woods, standing by the U.S. golfer in 2009 despite the bad publicity he suffered after a series of public extra-marital affairs.</p>
