The PGA of America today announced an expansive agreement with Swiss watch manufacturer Rolex, whose roots as a long-term supporter of the game of golf date back to 1967.
As part of this landmark partnership, Rolex becomes the Official Timekeeper and Official Partner of the PGA of America and its three annual Major Championships: the PGA Championship, KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship. Rolex will activate against these events onsite and in the broadcast and digital spaces.
“This is a watershed moment for the PGA of America,” said PGA of America President Jim Richerson. “Rolex’s long-standing belief in and support of golf has cultivated an aura of resiliency and trust within the game that is invaluable and, frankly, attractive for our 28,000-plus PGA Professionals to align with. Their commitment to our Association, the PGA Professional Championship and our spectator Championships, all of which feature golf played at its highest level, allow our PGA Professionals to do what they do best, which is to impact the game in a positive fashion.”
Rolex is committed to PGA Members, their events and grassroots initiatives, as the brand becomes the Presenting Partner of the annual PGA Professional Championship and the Official Timekeeper of PGA Golf Properties and PGA Frisco. Rolex also becomes Presenting Partner of the PGA’s three annual Player of the Year awards: the PGA Professional Player of the Year; Women’s PGA Professional Player of the Year; and Senior PGA Professional Player of the Year awards.
“It’s not often we sign agreements of this magnitude without supreme confidence and comfort in our partner, which we certainly have with our friends at Rolex,” said PGA of America CEO, Seth Waugh. “We’re excited to work with Rolex and their brand, which has represented the epitome of excellence in sport for so long. I've found there is something special about having partners of such ilk, for in the end, they motivate others to match their ideals.”
Jean-Frédéric Dufour, Chief Executive Officer, Rolex SA, said: “Since 1967, Rolex’s commitment to golf has grown and flourished, permeating every level of the sport. We are delighted to stand alongside the PGA of America in supporting its iconic flagship events, and through this landmark partnership, we take the next step in deepening our support for the game even further. From the grassroots, through to presenting all men’s and women’s Majors, we perpetuate our deep-rooted and unmatched commitment to the game of golf.”
Rolex’s Ryder Cup portfolio also expands with the agreement. As Official Timekeeper of Team Europe since 1995, Rolex aligns with Ryder Cup USA for the first time as Official Timekeeper and Partner, and, by doing so, is elevated to Ryder Cup Worldwide Partner status.
Rolex also assumes the role of Presenting Partner of the weekly Ryder Cup Points Standings, which monitors the progress of top eligible players as they fend for automatic berths on the U.S. and European teams.
Guy Kinnings, Deputy CEO European Tour and Ryder Cup Director, said: “Rolex’s commitment to golf as a whole is unparalleled and this is therefore a truly momentous day both for The Ryder Cup and our sport as a whole.
“The invaluable support of Rolex for over a quarter of a century has helped both The Ryder Cup and the European Tour grow and prosper. With their new alignment and agreement with our friends at the PGA of America, I am incredibly excited at what the future holds for an event which is already recognised as one of the greatest in all of sport.”
Rolex’s involvement in golf dates back to 1967 and its seminal partnership with Arnold Palmer who, joined by Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player, became the brand’s first golfing Testimonees. Since then, Rolex’s relationship with the game has grown and flourished, providing support for world-class players, the main professional tours and governing bodies, as well as the finest events on the golf calendar. It now encompasses all Major Championships – four men’s and five women’s – where victory represents the pinnacle of achievement in the sport.
About the PGA of America
The PGA of America is one of the world’s largest sports organizations, composed of nearly 29,000 PGA Professionals who work daily to grow interest and inclusion in the game of golf. For more information about the PGA of America, visit PGA.com and follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
About Rolex
An unrivalled reputation for quality and expertise
Rolex is an integrated and independent Swiss watch manufacturer. Headquartered in Geneva, the brand is recognized the world over for its expertise and the quality of its products – symbols of excellence, elegance and prestige. The movements of its Oyster Perpetual and Cellini watches are certified by COSC, then tested in-house for their precision, performance and reliability. The Superlative Chronometer certification, symbolized by the green seal, confirms that each watch has successfully undergone tests conducted by Rolex in its own laboratories according to its own criteria. These are periodically validated by an independent external organization. The word “Perpetual” is inscribed on every Rolex Oyster watch. But more than just a word on a dial, it is a philosophy that embodies the company’s vision and values. Hans Wilsdorf, the founder of the company, instilled a notion of perpetual excellence that would drive the company forward. This led Rolex to pioneer the development of the wristwatch and numerous major watchmaking innovations, such as the Oyster, the first waterproof wristwatch, launched in 1926, and the Perpetual rotor self-winding mechanism, invented in 1931. In the course of its history, Rolex has registered over 500 patents. At its four sites in Switzerland, the brand designs, develops and produces the majority of its watch components, from the casting of the gold alloys to the machining, crafting, assembly and finishing of the movement, case, dial and bracelet. Furthermore, the brand is actively involved in supporting the arts and culture, sport and exploration, as well as those who are devising solutions to preserve the planet.
