Rory in holding pattern after Nike golf exit

When news of Nike shutting down its club manufacturing business broke, it left a number of top players who use the company’s equipment in a quandary.

Other than Tiger Woods, who’s out indefinitely with a back injury, Nike’s highestprofile player is Rory McIlroy, who said he heard the news two hours before the company made the announcement public.

“I think we’re all still trying to figure it out,’’ McIlroy said Wednesday. “I’m very happy with pretty much everything. I’ve gotten them to save me about three years’ worth of golf balls, so at least I’ve got a golf ball that I like and that I know that I can play well with.

“It was a shock to all of us. I got a call two hours before it was announced. We’ll see where we go from here. I’m not going to commit to anything. I wouldn’t be surprised to see me not go with manufacturer for a year or two, just sort of play with what I want to play, play with what I’m comfortable with, and go from there.’’

McIlroy already is being heavily courted by a number of companies since the Nike news broke.

“I haven’t been home, but apparently my parents’ house has been inundated with golf equipment from different manufacturers,’’ he said. “I haven’t asked for it, but it’s there.’’

McIlroy did recently, on his own, change putters in an effort to break out of the terrible putting slump he has been in.

“I think everyone knows I’ve made a change in putter, but I think that was inevitable after my performance at Baltusrol,’’ he said, referring to missing the cut despite striking the ball well.

Henrik Stenson is traveling with a couple of very fine trinkets right now. Stenson this week has the Claret Jug, his trophy for winning the British Open, and his Olympic silver medal.

“I’m not one to run around and have my medal [on] at the supermarket,’’ Stenson said jokingly. “I like to keep it a little bit more quiet than that. But of course it’s a cool thing. Of course, it’s an opportunity for the fans to have a look and if they want to see it, of course I’m going to let them.’’

He said he’ll be carrying the Claret Jug with him to tournaments for the rest of the year since the winner gets to keep it for only a year.

“That one’s going to be with me, as you know, for the remainder of the year,’’ he said.