World number two Rory McIlroy has signed a long-term sponsorship deal with US golf equipment manufacturer TaylorMade, the company confirmed Tuesday.
The deal, which will see the Northern Ireland star use the company's clubs, bag and balls, is worth $100 million (92 million euros) over a decade, reports said.
McIlroy is already one of golf's most marketable stars, recently signing a $200 million extension to his existing contract to wear Nike golf apparel.
McIlroy, who is preparing for this week's Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass, has spent the last several months experimenting with different makes of clubs following Nike's withdrawal from the club manufacturing market.
However he settled on TaylorMade after deciding the firm's clubs and ball offered the best chance to regain his world number one ranking.
"My future rests firmly in my hands –- that's why I choose TaylorMade. I've been around the game long enough and have tested most clubs on the market, but I have never been as excited about equipment as I am right now," McIlroy said in a statement.
In remarks at Sawgrass, McIlroy said he hoped the combination of ball and clubs would help him add to his collection of four Majors.
"I tested different combinations, a lot of different stuff, and I came to the conclusion that this was the best way forward for me to try and improve, try and win more, try to get back to world No1, try to win more majors," McIlroy said. "So I'm really excited about that.
"I tested quite a few balls and the one that I landed on was really it; the ball was what led me to this point because this is the best ball I've ever hit. Then it was just about trying to match everything up to that."
McIlroy joins a growing band of elite golfers to opt for TaylorMade. World number one Dustin Johnson and Australian star Jason Day also use the company's clubs.
US Masters champion Sergio Garcia, Olympic champion Justin Rose and Jon Rahm also use TaylorMade.
McIlroy meanwhile, who is playing his first tournament since his marriage to Erica Stoll last month, said he hopes happiness in his private life will translate to success on the course.
"There's not many question marks going on in my life right now," he said. "I feel like everything's exactly where it's meant to be, and if you feel like that off the golf course, then I can only imagine that it will help you on it."
