Rory McIlroy sued by Oakley for breach of contract after his £200m defection to Nike The American sportswear company filed a lawsuit last Monday in a federal court in Santa Ana, California, claiming it wanted to exercise its "right of first refusal" to match the Nike offer, but McIlroy and his agent, Conor Ridge, ignored the counter-offer, and so breached the terms of his existing deal. Oakley said its contractual rights for McIlroy's endorsements of its eyewear and sports clothing would be 30 per cent of the Nike package. The Nike deal is thought to be worth $200 million (£124 million). The lawsuit further claims that the damage that has resulted from McIlroy's decision to desert them for Nike is "irreparable" and entitles Oakley to an injunction that would stop Nike and McIlroy from concluding or implementing their contract. Oakley is also claiming financial damages, but has not specified the amount. Meanwhile, the European Tour is under pressure to make a dual announcement on the Ryder Cup captaincy next month after McIlroy backed Paul McGinley to lead Europe at Gleneagles in 2014, with the proviso that Darren Clarke was given the job in the United States in 2016. Charl Schwartzel shares the halfway lead with France's Grégory Bourdy in the Alfred Dunhill Championship in South Africa.