The Open Returns to Royal Portrush: Rolex Testimonees Pursue Glory at Golf’s Original Major
Courtresy Rolex
There are golf tournaments—and then there is The Open. Where Atlantic winds buffet ancient dunes, where history seeps from every sod-faced bunker, and where only the most composed can lift the Claret Jug. In July 2025, The Open Championship returns to Northern Ireland’s Royal Portrush Golf Club for just the third time, and Rolex Testimonees are once again setting their sights on golf’s most storied prize.
Since its founding in 1860, The Open has stood as golf’s original major—steeped in tradition, resilience, and the enduring drama of links golf. This year, from 17–20 July, the world’s finest players will tackle the mercurial conditions of Royal Portrush, a course that demands strategy, nerve and precision.
A symbol of excellence in both horology and sport, Rolex has served as Official Timekeeper of The Open since 1981 and became Premier Partner in 2018. This long-standing partnership with The R&A—organisers of The Open and custodians of golf’s rules—reflects a shared ethos: respect for the game, integrity, and timeless performance.
Royal Portrush’s Dunluce Links is no passive beauty. This dramatic coastal course is laced with peril. Its notorious 16th hole, “Calamity Corner,” stretches a daunting 236 yards across a chasm to a narrow, wind-lashed green. It’s one of the most fearsome par-3s in golf—where one misjudged swing can unravel a round.
Legends have been forged on this stage. From Arnold Palmer and Gary Player to Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, and Tiger Woods, The Open has crowned the greats. In recent years, Rolex Testimonees such as Phil Mickelson (2013), Jordan Spieth (2017), Francesco Molinari (2018), and Collin Morikawa (2021) have etched their names into golf history.
Morikawa’s maiden Open victory at Royal St. George’s was particularly memorable—a bogey-free final round, ice-cold under pressure. “There’s nothing more special than walking down the 18th fairway on a Sunday at The Open,” he said. “It’s a walk I’ll never forget.”
Since Rolex clocks first adorned the fairways of Royal St. George’s in 1981, they’ve become a familiar fixture at The Open—marking not just time, but moments of enduring significance.
As golf’s oldest major returns to one of its most challenging and dramatic venues, The Open at Royal Portrush promises to test every ounce of talent and tenacity. And as ever, Rolex will be there—quietly, elegantly—marking history with every tick.
