Over the past 50 years, the Rolex brand has been inextricably linked to the world of golf, sponsoring several major events and publishing player rankings. Moreover, Rolex watches have emerged as the timepieces of choice for top class professional players and the brand has financially backed some of the most iconic figures in the sport’s history.
In truth, the connection between Rolex and the world of golf is quite easy to understand. The idea of precision is a key concept to both, with golf requiring precise shots and Rolex offering precision timekeeping. Meanwhile, both Rolex and the sport of golf are strongly associated with the concept of tradition.
Golf Events and Rolex
Perhaps the most obvious connection between Rolex and golf comes through the watchmaker sponsoring several of the sport’s major events. In fact, for more than 30 years, Rolex has served as the patron and official timekeeper of The Open Championship, which is one of the most prestigious tournaments in professional golf.
Among the other events sponsored by Rolex are the Masters Tournament, the U.S. Open, the DP World Tour Championship and the Players Championship. Of course, the brand is also a keen supporter of ladies’ golf, sponsoring the Evian Championship, the Solheim Cup, the Ricoh Women’s British Open and the U.S. Women’s Open.
Players Sponsored By Rolex
Another way in which Rolex are connected to professional golf is through player sponsorship deals an
d, indeed, whether it is past greats or current stars, many of the greatest players to ever play the game are currently sponsored by the luxury watchmaker. Some of the most famous Rolex-sponsored golfers are:
- Jack Nicklaus – 18 major championship wins
- Tiger Woods – 14 major championship wins
- Gary Player – 9 major championship wins
- Arnold Palmer – 7 major championship wins
- Phil Mickelson – 5 major championship wins
In addition to the iconic names above, the list of current professional players sponsored by the Rolex brand includes: Jason Day, Adam Scott, Luke Donald, Retief Goosen and Martin Kaymer.
Choosing the Best Rolex for Golfing
Ideally, when seeking a watch for use when playing golf, you want a high-class timepiece that looks great, embraces tradition, is functional and offers great precision. However, you also want one which is durable and will not impede your game at all. Some of the stand-out options that fulfill these requirements include:
The exact model you opt for may depend entirely on your taste and budget. Tiger Woods, for example, is known to favor a 41mm Rolex Day-Date II, in 18-karat white gold, while Rickie Fowler has an extensive collection of Rolex timepieces, which includes a blue-faced Datejust and a black and green Milgauss.
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