ROLEX AND GOLF Perpetual Excellence For more than a century, Rolex’s quest for excellence through continuous improvement and innovation has underpinned all of the company’s activities – in its watchmaking and all its engagements. As part of Perpetual Excellence, Rolex seeks partnerships with individuals and organizations in the arts and in sport who set the highest standards of performance. Note Please note that the following is generic information in line with the “traditional” calendar. However, given the extraordinary circumstances that have impacted the world, the dates of some of these events are likely to change in 2021. ROLEX AND GOLF Rolex supports the most prestigious events, players and organizations in golf and encourages the development of the game worldwide. Its contribution to excellence in the sport is based on a rich heritage stretching back more than 50 years. Rolex champions both innovation and respect for the spirit of the ancient game. AT THE HEART OF THE GAME Rolex is a leading supporter of golf, with its universal commitment across the men’s and women’s game and from amateur through to senior ranks. The Swiss watch brand partners the principal professional tournaments and tours in golf, including four Majors in men’s golf that constitute the pinnacle of achievement for the world’s best players each year: • the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club (United States) in April; • the PGA Championship in May; • the U.S. Open in June; • The Open in the United Kingdom in July. This support extends to all five Majors in women’s golf. Rolex’s presence at the heart of competition is cemented by partnerships with the most prestigious institutions governing golf worldwide: • The R&A, based at the historic Home of Golf at St Andrews, Scotland; • the USGA. Rolex also partners golf’s foremost players, building on a golfing heritage that began with the sport’s most influential players, known as The Big Three: Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player. THE BEGINNING In 1967, Rolex made a pivotal decision to partner Arnold Palmer, joined by Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player, beginning the brand’s unique relationship with golf. The charismatic Palmer holds a special place in the game thanks as much to his natural talent and outstanding playing career as to his pioneering role in the sport. He, alongside fellow Rolex Testimonees Jack Nicklaus, who won a record 18 Majors, and Gary Player, ranked third overall for the number of professional wins, were instrumental in modernizing the sport and giving it a worldwide dimension. Since 1967, the ROLEX SA | February 2021 | 2 - 6 ROLEX AND GOLF relationship between Rolex and golf has continuously grown and prospered thanks to the brand’s trendsetting initiative in the field of sports sponsorship. MEN’S GOLF Events In 2021, Rolex celebrates 40 years as the Official Timekeeper of The Open, the sport’s original title and one of the four men's Majors. This prestigious tournament is organized by The R&A, golf’s governing body responsible for monitoring the official Rules of Golf. The Rules, set out by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, have preserved the integrity of the sport for more than 250 years. Both The R&A and The Rules have long-standing partnerships with Rolex, upholding the etiquette of the game and its exacting code of conduct. Rolex has enjoyed more than 40 years of partnership with the USGA, which is responsible for organizing the U.S. Open. Together with The R&A, the USGA governs golf worldwide, promoting and sustaining the game and acting as a custodian of The Rules, thereby ensuring that a respect for the laws of the game, and an emphasis on golfing etiquette and general excellence both on and off the course, are transmitted from one generation of players to the next. Since 1999, Rolex has enjoyed an enduring partnership with the Masters, the first Major of the year, played annually at Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia, United States. A prestigious classic, known for its traditional values, it is the only invitational tournament among golf’s Majors. In 2021, Rolex becomes the Official Timekeeper and Official Partner of the PGA Championship, the only Major contested by an all-professional field. Played at iconic venues around the United States, the PGA Championship has been a source of success for Rolex Testimonees, with nine players winning a cumulative 18 championships. Complementing these Major tournaments are the leading team competitions in the game. Every two years, The Ryder Cup pits the United States against Europe. Since 2014, Rolex has been closely associated with this popular event, acting as sponsor when it is played in Europe every four years, and the European team at all editions. From 2021, Rolex extends this support by becoming a sponsor at all editions, in both Europe and the United States, beginning at Whistling Straits where the Europe will seek to defend its title. The Presidents Cup™, also sponsored by Rolex, is contested by the United States and an international team comprised of the top-ranked players outside Europe. These high-profile events are unique in that no prize money is awarded. ROLEX SA | February 2021 | 3 - 6 ROLEX AND GOLF Rolex is further involved in men’s golf as Official Timekeeper of prime tournaments on the PGA TOUR®, including the World Golf Championships, the World Cup of Golf, THE PLAYERS Championship, the FedExCup Playoffs, and of the European Tour’s Race to Dubai finale, the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai. Since 2017, the brand has partnered the Rolex Series, the premium tournament category on the European Tour’s International Schedule and comprising the most prestigious events on the tour. With its universal reach, Rolex is the Official Timekeeper of golf’s main tours: the PGA TOUR® in North America, the European Tour and the Asian Tour. As part of the brand’s dedication to the development of this great game, Rolex is a Premier Partner of the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA), including its final event of the year, the Rolex Tournament of Champions. Rolex also supports the most prestigious amateur events throughout the world governed by The R&A, the USGA and Augusta National Golf Club. Testimonees Rolex partners many of the sport’s biggest names, spread across several generations, players who have shaped the game and are determining its future. These Testimonees include: • the Rolex New Guard of leading players, including Cameron Champ (United States), Joaquín Niemann (Chile) and Matthew Wolff (United States); • Major winners such as Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, Phil Mickelson, Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas and Tiger Woods (all United States), Jason Day and Adam Scott (both Australia) and Martin Kaymer (Germany) as well as leading players Rickie Fowler (United States) and Jon Rahm (Spain); • golf legends, such as The Big Three and American great Tom Watson. Rolex also sponsors European Ryder Cup team captains, including Pádraig Harrington (Republic of Ireland), Thomas Bjørn (Denmark), Paul McGinley (Republic of Ireland), Colin Montgomerie (United Kingdom), José Maria Olazábal (Spain) and Bernhard Langer (Germany). All of these highly respected figures in the sport, through their example on the course and advice to those following in their footsteps, ensure there is a continuous transmission of knowledge and expertise – and the transmission of excellence in a wider sense by inspiring the next generation to strive for the highest achievement. ROLEX SA | February 2021 | 4 - 6 ROLEX AND GOLF WOMEN’S GOLF Events Rolex celebrates a partnership of more than 40 years with the LPGA (Ladies Professional Golf Association), the prestigious women’s tour organizer. Rolex is also the Official Timekeeper of the five women’s Majors: • the ANA Inspiration (United States); • the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship (United States); • the U.S. Women’s Open (United States); • The Amundi Evian Championship (France); • the AIG Women’s Open (United Kingdom). Rolex sponsors the leading team tournament in women’s golf, the Solheim Cup, contested every two years by the best players from Europe and the United States. The brand also upholds the game’s standards of excellence through its sponsorship of the LPGA’s top awards, such as the Rolex Player of the Year, the Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year and the Rolex ANNIKA Major Award for the player with the most outstanding record in the Majors each season. In 2019, Rolex announced the introduction of a new prize, awarded annually to a person or player who has helped to make a difference for the women’s game. Testimonees Rolex counts leading LPGA Tour players among its Testimonees: • the Rolex New Guard of leading players, including Maria Fassi (Mexico) and Albane Valenzuela (Switzerland); • Major winners Brooke Henderson (Canada), Lydia Ko (New Zealand), Anna Nordqvist (Sweden) and Lexi Thompson (United States); • legendary golfers Nancy Lopez (United States), Lorena Ochoa (Mexico) and Annika Sörenstam (Sweden). As a committed partner of women’s golf, in 2006 Rolex became a founding sponsor of the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings, the first comprehensive world ranking system for women players. ROLEX SA | February 2021 | 5 - 6 ROLEX AND GOLF ROLEX AND ACHIEVEMENT The roots of Rolex’s affinity for sports and human achievement can be traced back to the pioneering origins of the company. When founder Hans Wilsdorf set up his watchmaking firm, he was influenced by the swift changes sweeping through society at the beginning of the 20th century. In an era when wristwatches were still regarded as fragile items of apparel, he was determined to create one that would be robust, precise and reliable, adapted to ever more active and sporting lifestyles.