World no.1 Rory McIlroy yesterday attempted to brush aside growing speculation in that he is about to sign a multi-million deal to join Tiger Woods in the Nike stable.

McIlroy, in Shanghai for the $7 million BMW Masters which begins tomorrow, was responding to stories which claimed the 23-year-old was about to sign a Nike contract that could see him earn up to a staggering $250 million over 10 years.

McIlroy’s current deal with golf giant Titleist expires at the end of 2012, making the double major winner and leader on the money list on both sides of the Atlantic the most prized free agent on the equipment market.

“These rumours have been going around for years and it seems to always come up at this time of the year,” McIlroy said.

“I leave it up to Conor Ridge (McIlroy’s manager) to sort out as it leaves me to concentrate on my golf. That’s all I can do and besides I have enough to think about trying to get the ball in the hole.”

It’s no secret that Woods, the world no. 2, and McIlroy have be-come good friends as well as on-course rivals.

Indeed, the two will go head-to-head in “The Duel at Jinsha Lake” in Zhengzhou, China, on Monday.

“That should be exciting and I’m really looking forward to heading back to Lake Jinsha,” said McIlroy of the 18-hole medal match.

“I’ve spoken to Tiger about it and we are both really excited as it will be the first time we will ever do something like this together.”

And with more than a hint of further commercial hook-ups between the two biggest draws in the game in the future McIlroy added, tellingly: “I see it also as a good marketing exercise for Tiger and myself.”