"When Rolex gives members of the European Ryder Cup team an engraved watch, it is very special,” says Kaymer, who played on Europe’s victorious Ryder Cup sides in 2010, 2014 and, most memorably, 2012, where he sunk the decisive putt. “That watch is something to treasure, and to hand down to your grandchildren one day. That watch is a fantastic reminder that, as a golfer, you have achieved something very special.”
A large part of golf’s allure, naturally, is the personalities involved in the sport, and Rolex’s affiliation with the game’s great characters has become ingrained in the minds of fans around the world.
Interestingly, Rolex added Tiger Woods to its portfolio of players in 2011 - two years after his very public downfall. It was the American’s first major endorsement since he was exposed for serial adultery and came about after Tag Heuer dropped him two months previously. The move made a big statement and, crucially, has proved overwhelmingly successful. Four years on and despite not being able to replicate the kind of form that led him to his 14 major championship victories, Woods maintains extraordinary global appeal and in still considered the biggest name in the game. Not that this latest partnership is a first for Woods and the good people at La Chaux-de-Fonds. The now 39-year-old’s very first watch endorsement upon turning professional was forged with Rolex’s sister brand, Tudor.
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