Rolex and The Open Championships

Referred to as The Open Championship, The Open, or the British Open, this golf tournament is the only major championship that is played outside of the United States. The oldest of the four major golf tournaments, the first Open was played in 1860 at Prestwick Golf Club in Scotland. This year’s 143^rd Open Championship began today, July 17^th and is being hosted at the Royal Liverpool Golf Club in Hoylake, England. In addition to a nice pay check of $8,000,000, the winner of The Open receives the Claret Jug, which is one of the most coveted and iconic trophies in the sporting world.

After the first day of the tournament, some of the top names are at the top of the leader board, while others got off to a slower start. Rory McIlroy is leading the way at -6, while Adam Scott is tied for third, Rickie Fowler and Tiger Woods are in 10^th place, defending champion Phil Mickelson is at +2, and 2014 Master Champion Bubba Watson sits at +4.

The sport of golf has a long standing relationship with the luxury watch industry. This relationship is strengthened every year at The Open as Rolex is the tournament’s official timekeeper and has been for over 30 years. Phil Mickelson won last year’s Open Championship for the first time. Mickelson is a brand ambassador for Rolex and slipped on his Rolex Cellini before hoisting the Claret Jug.

Image from Jake’s Rolex World.

Mickelson is not the only top golfer that has a relationship with a luxury watch brand. OMEGA watches can claim many top golfers as brand ambassadors, such as Rory McIlroy, Harris English, and Sergio Garcia. OMEGA also is the Official timekeeper of the PGA Championship and the Ryder Cup, when it is held in the U.S. Rolex is the official timekeeper of the US Open and this year’s Champion, Martin Kaymer, is a Rolex ambassador and wore his Rolex Daytona while accepting his trophy. Adam Scott, Tiger Woods, Tom Watson, Retief Goosen, Luke Donald, Jordan Speith, and Phil Mickelson are some of Rolex’s biggest brand ambassadors in the golf world. Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer, who are two of the greatest golf champions to ever play the game, are also proud ambassadors for the brand.

To promote their relationship with The Open, Rolex has Rolex clocks placed throughout the green in Hoylake and is showing Rolex commercials throughout the broadcast of the tournament. The brand has two feature commercials that show either Nicklaus or Woods and explains how a Rolex is more than just a watch. Take a look at the commercial for yourself.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwmOEZRYdmw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDSWWt8gmAM

As the oldest and one of the most prestigious golf tournaments in the world, its relationship with Rolex is very appropriate, as Rolex is one of the most prestigious and recognized watch brands in the world. And while most of the players will not wear their luxury watch on the green, if the winner is a luxury watch brand ambassador, there is a good chance the winner could slip on a watch before lifting the Claret Jug.