Think of the leading golf events around the world and Rolex is there as the main sponsor and timekeeper. When winners host their trophies, chances are they have a Rolex on their wrists.

Rolex’s enduring relationship with the game of golf began in 1967 with Arnold Palmer, joined by Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player. Known together as the Big Three, these legendary players changed the face of golf forever, and their partnership with Rolex as the first golf Testimonees marked the beginning of a relationship based on a quest for perfection, excellence and sportsmanship.

Then came the governing bodies of golf: the USGA, the LPGA and the R&A. Rolex supporting golf really helped the sport develop, going global and capturing the hearts and minds of people everywhere.

The Masters: Rolex has been an International Partner of the Masters since 1999, held annually at Augusta National Golf Club as the first men’s Major championship of the year.  The Masters is a prestigious classic, known for its traditional values, and the only invitational tournament among golf’s Majors, where the best players from around the world vie to win the coveted Green Jacket.  In addition to this prestigious Tournament, Rolex also contributes to the advancement of the game through its support of the Masters Tournament Foundation – a charitable extension of the Tournament designed to invest annually in development programs worldwide.

The U.S. Open: dubbed “golf’s ultimate test,” and organized by the USGA – has had the support of Rolex since 1980.  The Tournament is open to both professional and amateur golfers, however, the extensive qualification process is unsurpassed.  Traditionally, U.S. Open venues are set up to reward accuracy and precision, which are paramount for competitors.  Moving every year, the Tournament has circulated through acclaimed US golf courses in thus far 19 states, and the widespread TV and internet coverage ensures international live footage during the four days of competition.

Though golf is essentially an untimed sport, time still matters. Tournaments are organized by tee times, and players have a certain window to appear and if they don’t, they are penalized and then disqualified.

The Open: For over 30 years, Rolex has been the partner and Official Timekeeper of The Open, the sport’s oldest professional tournament and one of the emblematic Majors.  At this third Major of the year, founded in 1860, golfers compete for one of the oldest prizes in sport, the Claret Jug.  This prestigious Tournament is organized by the R&A, golf’s governing body responsible for monitoring the official Rules of Golf.
Rolex has been an integral part of the sport of golf – the two (Rolex and Golf) have grown together. Golfers who play the game at the highest level understand and recognize how important Rolex has been. Their values align with the values of Rolex.
Though golf is essentially an untimed sport, time still matters. Tournaments are organized by tee times, and players have a certain window to appear and if they don’t, they are penalized and then disqualified.

Time in golf is essential. You will see Rolex clocks everywhere around the course, because timing is an integral part of the rules. Golf is a very prompt sport, because the fundamental nature of putting 150 players onto the golf course and through 18 holes is very well orchestrated through time. You can’t let it get out of sync. Rolex sends experts with very high-quality products to make sure we are 100% accurate with our timing. There is a five-minute window of time, then you get a two-stroke penalty, and then you will get disqualified. That’s why you see clocks everywhere the players have to be, so they will know the time.

Great Rolex Moments in Golf History
When winners host their trophies, chances are they have a Rolex on their wrists. Here are top moments in golf, with Rolex bearing witness:

There are feats that make golfers stand out as the game’s greatest champions, and winning all four Majors is one of them. There are only five players in the entire history of golf who have won all four modern Majors (the Masters, the U.S. Open, The Open and the PGA Championship), and three Rolex Testimonies are in that pantheon: Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Tiger Woods. In fact, Woods and Nicklaus have won each of the four Majors at least three times.
Dueling Testimonies: Tom Watson vs. Jack Nicklaus at The Open. Nicknamed “The Duel in the Sun,” Watson took Nicklaus head-on at Turnberry in 1977, coming out with a one stroke win and the second of his five Open titles.

In 1997, Rolex Testimonee Tiger Woods won the Masters, his first Major, making him the tournament’s youngest winner ever and the first Major winner of African descent – a game-changing moment in golf history.
In 2003, Rolex Testimonee Annika Sörenstam was invited to and teed off in a PGA TOUR event, and she remains the only woman to ever do so. In 2015, Rolex Testimonee Lydia Ko became the youngest golfer to be a two-time Major winner and the world’s number one player.
This year, two Rolex Testimonies made golf history by winning tournaments in a dramatic fashion. First, it was Brooks Koepka winning at the U.S. Open, followed up right after by Jordan Spieth becoming the youngest American ever to win The Open with a tremendous final round.
For over 50 years, the brand has been working with the leaders in the golfing world, and Rolex is continuing to forge closer and stronger ties to the movers and shakers as golf grows, expanding its influence around the world.Rolex aligns itself with the best of the best, and the best of the best want to wear Rolex. Rolex touches every aspect of the game and their people understand every aspect of the game, and they can bridge their brand with the stories of the game.

HISTORY OF ROLEX

Rolex was founded in 1902 by Hans Wilsdorf and his brother-in-law Alfred Davis as Wilsdorf and Davis. He founded the watch making company in London where they specialized in importing Hermann Aegler’s quality movements and then placing them in quality watch cases made by companies such as Dennison. The duo distributed the timepieces to jewelers that added their names to the wristwatches. Some of the earliest watches produced were often stamped with “W&D” on the inside of the caseback.

In 1908, Wilsdorf registered “Rolex” as a trademark and opened their first Switzerland office in La Chaux-de-Fonds.  It has been said that Wilsdorf wanted his brand to be easy to pronounce in any language. The word “Rolex” was also said to sound like a watch being wound according to Wilsdorf.

A Rolex watch was awarded a Class A precision certificate by the Kew Observatory in 1914.  This was an exciting distinction considering that normally the award was given exclusively to marine chronometers. 

Wartime taxes imposed on luxury items caused Wilsdorf to leave England in 1919.  The levies on silver and gold, which were metals that were used in the production of Rolex watches, became too costly. The Rolex brand moved with Wilsdorf settling down in Geneva, Switzerland as Rolex Watch Company.  Later the brand would become Montres Rolex, SA and finally Rolex, SA.

Rolex timepieces are the most reputable and renowned timepieces in the world today. Invented by Hans Wilsdorf in 1908 and branded under the iconic Rolex name in 1915, these watches epitomize timeless elegance and prestige among all luxury watches. Along with being the first watch brand to pass the COSC, the Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute, Rolex was the leading innovator of waterproof watch cases, multiple timezone timekeeping, and the date feature on dials. Rolex continues to expand their Rolex lines by producing masterful and unrivaled timepieces including the Rolex Submariner, Day-Date President, Cosmograph Daytona, Datejust, Yacht-Master, GMT-Master II, Explorer, Explorer II, Air-King, Oysterdate, Oyster Perpetual, Date, Sea-Dweller, Deepsea, Day-Date II, Masterpiece, Lady Pearlmaster, Lady-DateJust, and Lady-Perpetual watch. Each model has its own characteristic and evokes a unique feeling of adventure, power, and success. With a variety of sizes, metals including gold, white gold, stainless steel, two-tone and optional diamonds or mother of peal dial, the versatility of these timepieces are guaranteed to satisfy the most sophisticated tastes.