Rory McIlroy’s closest companion contradicts the views of six-time Major Champion Nick Faldo declaring the current World No. 1 will have no concerns whatsoever switching to Nike.

Graham McDowell raised plenty of eyebrows when the then reigning 2010 U.S. Open champion switched from Callaway to Cleveland/Srixon.

However McDowell successfully made the transition and, unlike the views of Faldo he sees McIlroy facing no such dilemma in switching from Titleist to Nike.

Graeme McDowell says good friend Rory McIlroy will have no concern switching to Nike and refuting the claims of Nick Faldo. (Photo – www.golffile.ie)

“The six-time Major Champion grew up in an era when there was a huge diversity in the best compared to the average and now we are talking about equipment companies that spend millions and millions and millions on R & D,” said McDowell.

“The knowledge is also shared now because one R & D guys starts working at Srixon and then may switch to Nike and then another guy might go to Titleist and another to Callaway and it is amazing how much the knowledge is shared now.

“So I have to say I disagree with Sir Nick because as long as a guy gets a good driver and ball combination and a guy like Rory, who is extremely talented and potentially is one of the most talented players we have ever seen, then he should be okay.”

In talking with McDowell, who is also managed by Horizon Sports, he was not asked to confirm or deny McIlroy’s move to Nike but then there was hardly getting away from golf’s worst kept secret.

But whenever the move is officially confirmed McDowell indicated McIlroy is not switching to Nike simply because of the increased wealth of a new $20m a year deal.

“When I switched there were plenty of comments but it just doesn’t boil down to purely financial reasons, and it would have been pretty short-sighted of me to switch equipment companies for money,” he said.

“What you do on the golf course is more important than how much money you are making off the golf course.

“Eventually the money will dry up and you have to keep producing the goods on the golf course, so I would never go to a company that had inferior equipment, and it’s simple as that.

“So whoever Rory turns to, that company will be able to provide him with a certain level of equipment but is not going there if he doesn’t like the equipment and he didn’t think he could compete,” said McDowell.

“Rory McIlroy is now 23 years of age, so he’s got 20 years left of trying to win Major Championships and he is not going to go to an inferior technology company.”

And with Woods already on the flip side of a 14-Major winning career, McDowell eventually sees McIlroy taking over from Woods as the driving force of Nike’s on-going research and development.

“Tiger has long been at the cutting edge of Nike R & D and helping their advisory committee but then a young guy like Rory who knows what the modern game is all about, so he can help direct research and development because he knows what he’s doing and he knows what equipment is best for him can certainly help Nike,” said McDowell.

“But can he take over the R & D lead from Tiger depends how long Tiger stays with Nike and continues to be competitive.

“Sure, Tiger has virtually singled-handedly taken Nike to where it is now in the market but then Nike still has huge room for development as they’re still not competing with the big, big brands in the market just yet.

“But with the Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods combination that really ups Nike’s game and ups their level.”