World No. 1 Rory McIlroy now looks almost certain to be switching to Nike after rivals Titleist confirmed they would not be renewing their contract with the double Major Champion.

But then you only had to be in Zhenghou on Monday to fathom that.

McIlroy was not only hitting golf shots with a Nike club belonginng to Woods but he was also using Nike golf balls on the range and was seen wearing a pair of Nike trainers while present for the ‘Duel at Jinsha Lake’.

There was the appearance also of Nike banners and balloons about the Chinese course.

And if the relationship now between Woods and McIlroy is any indication, as evident on and off the course is any indication, then the partnership of Wood and Nike could be the perfect equipment marriage.

It has been rumoured for some time Nike is contemplating offering McIlroy a 10-year deal, worth as much as $250 million.

When Woods turned pro in late 1996 he signed on with Nike in a deal reputed to worth $46 million.

But in that time Woods virtually single-handedly established Nike Golf to the force it now is world golf.

When McIlroy signed on with Titleist in 2007 it was beleived to be a five-year deal that comes to an end this year.

Nike may have gotten in early with McIlroy, but there is bound to be a fierce competition amongst all of the major golf manufacturers over the coming weeks, because after all, it’s not every day that golf equipment companies have the opportunity to sign a 23-year-old World No. 1 with two major championships already under his belt.

And if McIlroy does sign with Nike you can expect to see his name lying within Top 10 on Forbes 2013 money list of the world’s highest paid athletes.