GOLF

McIlroy parting ways with Acushnet, may join Woods in signing with Nike

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

McIlroy and Acushnet Co., which has supplied the 23-year-old star with Titleist and FootJoy equipment since he turned pro in 2007, said Tuesday they will not extend their relationship after this year.

There are strong indications McIlroy will sign with Nike for what one industry observer estimated to be upward of $20 million a year. A Nike official said the company would not comment.

HIGH SCHOOLS

FOOTBALL: Marshwood High School’s playoff game with Wells is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday. Marshwood will be selling tickets on Thursday and Friday in the main office from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Campbell Conference admission prices are $5 for adults and $2 for students and seniors. Everyone will need a ticket for the game.

MOVE: A community forum will be held Thursday night at Westbrook High School to discuss moving from the Southwestern Maine Activities Association to the Western Maine Conference and downgrading all of the athletic programs to Class B.

The forum begins at 6 p.m.; the public is invited.

BOXING

MILESTONE: Afghan boxer Hamid Rahimi won the first professional bout in his war-torn country of Afghanistan, stopping Said Mbelwa of Tanzania in the seventh round at Kabul. Rahimi said his aim in organizing “Afghanistan Fight 4 Peace” was to bring the people of his country together after decades of warfare.

Several hundred spectators watched the bout live in a large hall in the capital, cheering wildly.

TENNIS

PARIS MASTERS: Jo-Wilfried Tsonga reached the third round with a 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (2) win over Julien Benneteau.

TOP-RANKED: Novak Djokovic clinched the year-end No. 1 ranking. Djokovic lost the top spot to Roger Federer in July but will return to the top spot next week.

Djokovic will become the first player to finish No. 1 in consecutive years since Federer did it four straight times from 2004-07.

CYCLING

HONOR RESCINDED: The Australian city of Adelaide stripped Lance Armstrong of its highest honor – the key to the city – following the removal of his seven Tour de France titles.

The Tour Down Under, based in the city, was the first event he contested when he made a comeback to professional cycling in 2009, and his third appearance in the race in 2011 was also his last on cycling’s ProTour.