The Jumeirah Group is not renewing its five-year sponsorship deal with top-ranked Rory McIlroy amid expectations that the Northern Ireland golf star will sign with Nike next week.

Rory McIlroy may be on a week off, but he remains in the news and at the centre of debate – both for the clubs he plays with and for his choice of tournaments.

Rory McIlroy is officially a free agent when it comes to golf equipment.

News and opinions on the business side of sports

The fall-out from Paul Casey’s anti-American comments have taken a new and potentially expensive twist with his sponsor Acushnet – makers of Titleist clubs and balls – announcing they will not be renewing his contract next season.