While the expected signing of Rory McIlroy by Nike has been delayed for possibly two weeks, it has not dampened Nike’s presene in the UAE and particularly this week in Dubai.
In returning to Dubai after a short Christmas and New Year break in Australia, there is a strong Nike promotional presence particularly in Dubai where McIlroy will begin his pre-season testing starting next Monday (January 7th) at the Els Club.
Nike PR personnel have been spotted while there’s a big promotion for the company at Jumeriah Beach and many holidaymakers are getting about wearing the new 2013 edition Nike cap.
www.golfbytourmiss.com gets it right in revealing weeks ago Kyle Stanley and Nick Watney would be signing with Nike.
McIlroy is certain to have a number of Nike staff present in Dubai during his seven days of testing with the new clubs.
www.golfbytourmiss.com will be in Abu Dhabi over the weekend and will report back on our observations.
It seems too Abu Dhabi will be the site where Nike will now fanfare the company’s formal announcement of the McIlroy’s signing ahead of next fortnight’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship where the 23-year old double Major winner will commence his sixth full season on the pro ranks, and in an event for a second year running featuring 14-time Major winning Tiger Woods.
Nike is expected to use images of Woods and McIlroy in a double-barrel led promotional push to secure more of the lucrative golf club and attire market.
However it does remain to be seen what impact the curly-haired Northern Irishman will have on sourcing a straighter Nike Golf financial drive. Revenues for the homegrown division of the sports equipment company were nearly $US 730m in the fiscal year that ended last May 31, around a 10% increase over the previous year’s $US670 million.
But as a percentage of overall Nike revenue, Nike Golf has always hovered between 3 percent to 4 percent for at least the last seven years.
Joining McIlroy at the Els Club in Dubai from Monday will be long-time coach, Michael Bannon.
And as rightly predicted by www.golfbytourmiss.com Nike has announced the signing of Kyle Stanley, Nick Watney and exciting Korean Seung-yul Noh.
However leaving Nike is 2009 Open Champion, Stuart Cink who has switched to TaylorMade.
