Force On The Fairways

For more than 50 years, Rolex has put its support behind the sport of golf ensuring that the development of the game and its athletes at every level is above par and its athletes a at every level is above par

- Terence Lim

It was June 18 in 1960, American golfer Arnold Palmer was tied for 15th position after three rounds in the US Open, trailing seven shots behind then-leader Mike Souchak. The odds were heavily stacked against him but Palmer’s brilliance on the green eventually shone through: hitting six birdies in the first seven holes to card 30 on the front nine, he parred the last four holes to close on a 35 on the back nine. That exceptional performance at the Cherry Hills Country Club in Denver, Colorado, earned him his first—and only—US Open title.

Like Palmer’s remarkable last-day performance at the 1960 US Open suggests, golf is an intriguing game filled with strokes of brilliance, epic meltdowns and, of course, dramatic finishes. And such memorable moments are not restricted to big international tournaments; they occur all around the world, regularly across every level of the game, from junior and amateur ranks to the professional circuit.

The need to maintain the traditions and standards of golf everywhere is why Rolex has been supporting the game and its development, as well as exceptional golfers worldwide for more than five decades. The Swiss brand’s long-standing support of golf began in 1967 with Palmer, American Jack Nicklaus and South African Gary Player, quite possibly the most talented golfing trio on the tour back then. Widely known as The Big Three, they became the first Rolex Testimonees—a label bestowed upon personalities the brand has a close working partnership with—in golf.