Nike sideshow won’t ruffle McIlroy in Shanghai

Rory McIlroy returns to competition as the star of this week’s BMW Masters at the Lake Malaren Club in suburban Shanghai alongside 10 of his victorious European Ryder Cup colleagues.

There’s also four of the world’s top-five players, 28 of the leading 30 on the Race to Dubai and 14 Chinese- born players teeing up in this new European Tour event.

While speculation is rife McIlroy is about to switch to Nike at the start of next season, rumours abound also the 23-year old has just bought himself a $10m (€7.6m) palatial abode at West Palm Beach. However he went to work for a reputed $1m (€768,000) appearance fee two days ahead of the Shanghai event joining Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter, Martin Kaymer and Chinese number one Ashun Wu in a press conference.