Rolex celebrates more than two decades of partnership at The Masters

When Rolex Testimonee Tiger Woods tees off in the first round of the 84th Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on Thursday 12 November, he will reprise a role well-known to him throughout his career, that of defending champion.

One of the most dominant forces ever to have graced the famed greens of Augusta National, Woods enjoyed a memorable renaissance at last year’s Tournament.

On a thrilling final day of play, the American captured his fifth Green Jacket, evoking memories of that remarkable day back in 1997 when Woods won his first title and inspired a generation by becoming the youngest Masters champion in history at just 21 years old.

Now set to compete at the Masters for a 23rd time, Woods has an unrivalled knowledge of this iconic course and has the opportunity to capture yet another record at Augusta National, as he seeks to match the unprecedented six Green Jackets of fellow Rolex Testimonee Jack Nicklaus.

It is fitting then that Nicklaus should be returning to the Club once again this year to take up the mantle as Honorary Starter, joined by his great friend, on-course rival and Rolex Testimonee Gary Player, a three-time Masters champion.

2020 also marks the 60th anniversary of Rolex Testimonee Arnold Palmer winning the second of his four Masters titles (1958, 1960, 1962, 1964), where he birdied the final two holes to win by one stroke. Palmer enjoyed unrivalled success at the Masters over a seven-year period, becoming the first four-time winner in 1964 at just 34 years old.

Every year, the Masters welcomes an elite field of competitors, including today’s leading professionals, past champions and promising amateurs. The Masters Tournament, with which Rolex is an International Partner, is renowned for its celebrated history, uncompromising high standards and respect for tradition that mirror Rolex’s own perpetual commitment to excellence.

For more than five decades, Rolex has been at the forefront of golf, maintaining a special connection with the sport’s majors, its greatest champions and the organizations that administer the game around the world.

This enduring relationship began in 1967 when Palmer, joined by Nicklaus and Player – known together as ‘The Big Three’ – became the brand’s first golfing Testimonees, while it was in 1999 that Rolex’s relationship with the Masters was established and continues to this day.

ROLEX TESTIMONEE MASTERS CHAMPIONS

Arnold Palmer (1958, 1960, 1962, 1964) | Gary Player (1961, 1974, 1978) | Jack Nicklaus (1963, 1965, 1966, 1972, 1975, 1986) | Tom Watson (1977, 1981) | Bernhard Langer (1985, 1993) | Fred Couples (1992) | José María Olazábal (1994, 1999) | Tiger Woods (1997, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2019) | Phil Mickelson (2004, 2006, 2010) | Trevor Immelman (2008) | Adam Scott (2013) | Jordan Spieth (2015)