Golf is the subject of some of Rolex’s most important sponsorships; and for 2019, the iconic Swiss watch brand has increased its presence by adding an important new event to its Rolex Series tournaments: the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
Coinciding with the 20th anniversary of Rolex’s partnership with the PGA European Tour, the Rolex Series was first launched in 2017. Comprised of eight tournaments staged in a variety of locations around the world, the Rolex Series offers a minimum prize fund of $7 million, along with some very nice Rolex watches.
The Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship Joins the Rolex Series
The newly Rolex-branded event (which now kicks off the Rolex Series on the yearly calendar) is the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, held at the prestigious Abu Dhabi Golf Club. Over the event’s four thrilling days, Ireland’s Shane Lowry won a hard-fought battle against South African runner-up, Richard Sterne. The event was also of prime importance for Rolex Testimonee, Dominic Foos – the German pro, who at age 21 is one of Rolex’s youngest brand ambassadors.
This was Foos’ first Rolex Series tournament and first European Tour event, at which he finished in 11th place alongside fellow Rolex Testimonee, Rafa Cabrera-Bello. One place ahead of them in tenth position was another Rolex testimonee, Brooks Koepka, who competed in Abu Dhabi for the first time in five years.
Rolex was very well represented at the event, with several other testimonees swinging clubs, including Nicolas Colsaerts, Thomas Detry, Trevor Immelman, Martin Kaymer, Brooks Koepka, Haotong Li, Thorbjørn Olesen, and Thomas Pieters.
The next Rolex Series event will the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open hosted by the Rory Foundation from July 4-7; followed by the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open (July 11-14); the BMW PGA Championship (September 19-22); the Italian Open (October 10-13); the Turkish Airlines Open (November 7-10); the Nedbank Golf Challenge hosted by Gary Player (November 14-17); and the season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai (November 21-24), where the leading golfer of the Race to Dubai Rankings will be crowned.
