Rolex and The Open: Golf's oldest major
Traditionally held in the third week of July in the United Kingdom, The Open is the fourth and final major men's tournament of the year. Associated with this competition since 1981, Rolex is today a privileged partner of world golf.
Published on 07/17/2024
The partnership between Rolex and golf began in 1967, when the brand teamed up with Arnold Palmer, the sport's first Testimonee. Since then, Rolex has become the Official Watch and is a principal partner of most of the major events and players in world golf.
Created in 1860, The Open is played every year on a historic course in the United Kingdom, notably St Andrews.
The tournament of elegance and tradition
Tradition has it that The Open is always played on a links course, a course located by the sea with the associated weather hazards. The 156 players who participate each year must therefore demonstrate combativeness, self-control and humility in the face of heavy downpours, gusts of wind and heatwaves.
Unforgettable moments
With its unique history, the wild beauty of its coastal courses and the knowledge of the game of its fans, The Open has been the scene of remarkable events in the great history of world golf. We can remember the duels of Bobby Jones and Walter Hagen in the 1920s, the battle between Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus in 1977 or the tears of Tiger Woods after his third trophy in 2006.
Rolex maintains a special relationship with golf based on a foundation of shared values: respect for tradition, responsibility, mastery of gesture, elegance of movement, the perpetual search for excellence and commitment to future generations.
Today, Rolex has many partnerships with golf: with the world's governing bodies and rankings, with the biggest names in international golf, and with the major men's and women's, professional and amateur, senior and junior tours and tournaments.
At the same time, the brand has notably supported the creation of the Rolex Series (a gathering of the best tournaments on the DP World Tour), the Rolex Player of the Year Awards (best female golfer on the Ladies Professional Golf Association – LPGA) and the Rolex Junior Players of the Year (best male and female players under 18). Undeniably, Rolex has become “the partner watch of world golf”.
Rolex Testimonials and The Open
Several members of the Rolex Testimonials family are on the list of venerable players to have won The Open: Gary Player, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, Tiger Woods, Jordan Spieth, Francesco Molinari and Collin Morikawa.