Rolex Celebrates 150th Anniversary: The Open

Rolex Celebrates 150th Anniversary

THE OPEN

 

The Open testifies to golf’s rich, colorful and spectacular history. Played on demanding links courses shaped by nature and subject to unpredictable weather conditions, it is one of the ultimate tests for the world’s finest golfers. To win the sport’s oldest Major requires an unwavering commitment to the pursuit of excellence, driven by skill, patience and adaptability. Rolex supports the Championship as part of its long-standing partnership with the ancient game’s noblest institutions, legendary tournaments and greatest players.

Rolex and The Open

Rolex and The Open

Jordan Spieth Wins 2017 British Open

...Rolex Coolness...

Jordan Spieth

Wins 2017 British Open

42MM Orange Hand Explorer II

Jordan Spieth just won the Open Championship in England in stunning fashion. Jordan is pictured below holding the iconic Open Championship trophy, while wearing his 42MM Rolex Explorer II. Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports.

History of The Open

In 2012, Rolex released an amazing four-part documentary that covered the incredible history of The  Open, and you can watch all four parts below:

The Open 145th ROYAL TROON

...Golf's Original Championship...

The Open 145th ROYAL TROON July 14 to July 17, 2016
The Open Championship is often referred to as "The Open", or "The British Open". It remains golfs oldest of the four major world championships, thus preceding the Masters, the U.S. Open and the PGA Championship. This year's Open will be played from July 14 through July 17th at the Royal Troon Golf Club, on the Old Course, which is located in Troon, Scotland, in South Ayrshire.

Rolex Open Golf Legends

Many of the top golfers in history wear Rolex watches, so I thought I would share some photos below of golfers that have won The Open. Let's begin with "The Big Three of Golf", which includes Gary Player, Arnold Palmer, and Jack Nicklaus, who are pictured together below in 2007, all sporting their Rolex watches. 

Notice Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus are wearing yellow gold Rolex Day-Date models and Arnold Palmer is wearing one of my favorite Rolex models, which is an original LV Submariner, which has a green bezel with a black dial. 

In the photo below taken in the late 1960s we see the Golfs Big Three in the same order as the photo above.

Arnold Palmer

In the photo below we see golf legend, Arnold Palmer in a recent photo sporting his yellow gold Rolex GMT-Master. Palmer won The Open back-to-back in the years of 1961 and 1962. Arnold Palmer is not only one of the great golfing legends, but also a lifelong Rolex wearer. He has had the nickname of "The King" of golf because he was the first golf superstar in the age of television. Arnold Palmer began wearing a Rolex back in 1961 when he was 32 years old. Arnold Palmer became the first official Rolex Golf Ambassador in 1967, under the leadership of then Rolex CEO, André Heiniger.

"Rolex has shared every second of my time for the last 55 years." –Arnold Palmer

Arnold Palmer is pictured below in the Oval Office with President Nixon on February 13, 1969, along with fellow athletes, Bart Starr (football player) on far left, and Al Kaline of the Detroit Tigers. Notice, that Arnold Palmer is wearing his yellow gold Rolex Day-Date in the photos below. Ironically, you see the top golfer in the world wearing a Rolex "President" in the Oval Office.

Gary Player

Next up we have Gary Player, who won The Open in 1959, 1968, and 1974. In the recent photo below we see Gary Player sporting his yellow gold Rolex Day-Date.

Jack Nicklaus

Next, we see golf legend, Jack Nicklaus in a recent photo sporting his yellow gold Rolex Day-Date. Jack Nicklaus won The Open in 1966,1970 and 1978.

The photo below shows Jack Nicklaus in 1978 after winning The Open, and he is wearing his Rolex Day-Date. 

Jack has been wearing a Rolex Day-Date since 1967, so next year will mark the 50th years he has worn Rolex. The photo below of Jack Nicklaus wearing a Rolex Day-Date was taken in 1968 when he was 28 years old. It is the oldest known photo of him wearing a Rolex that I have been able to find.

Tom Watson

Next up we have Tom Watson who won The Open five times, in 1975, 1977, 1980, 1982 & in 1983. Tom Watson is pictured below holding his coveted Open trophy, and notice he is wearing his yellow gold Day-Date. The photo below was taken when he won The Open in 1982.

Seve Ballesteros

Pictured below we see Seve Ballesteros who own The Open in 1979, 1984 and 1988. Seve is wearing his Rolex Day-Date in the photo below.

Lee Trevino

Next up we see golf legend Lee Trevino who won The Open back to back in 1971 and 1972. In the photo below we see Lee Trevino with his good pal, Jack Nicklaus, and both are wearing Rolex watches.

In the photo below we see Lee Trevino wearing either a Rolex Submariner or GMT-Master.

Greg Norman

Next up we see Greg Norman who won The Open in 1986 and 1993. In 1993 Greg Norman set the record for the lowest score over 72 holes at The Open, winning in only 267 strokes. In the first photo below we see Greg Norman wearing his yellow gold Rolex Submariner.

In the photo below we see Greg Norman sporting his yellow gold Rolex Daytona.

In the photo below we see Greg Norman with Jack Nicklaus, and both are wearing yellow-gold Rolex models. Greg Norman is wearing a yellow gold Rolex Daytona, and Jack Nicklaus is wearing a yellow-gold Rolex Day-Date.

Tiger Woods

Next, we Tiger Woods who won The Open in 2000, 2005 and 2006. Tiger Woods is pictured below sporting his two-tone Rolex GMT-Master.

Phil Mickelson

Next up we see Phil Mickelson wearing his Platinum Rolex Day-Date. Phil Mickelson won The Open in 2013.