The PGA of Australia has announced an exciting new partnership with Rolex, the renowned Swiss watchmaker. As part of the agreement, Rolex will serve as the Official Timekeeper of the BMW Australian PGA Championship, one of the country’s premier golf events, and will also be a Major Partner of both the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia and the WPGA Tour of Australasia.
PGA of Australia CEO, Gavin Kirkman, expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration, stating, “We are thrilled to welcome Rolex as a Major Partner for the PGA of Australia, our flagship event—the BMW Australian PGA Championship—and our tours that are cultivating the next generation of golf stars. Rolex’s long-standing association with golf and its rich history in the sport, spanning nearly six decades, aligns with our shared commitment to fostering the game for future generations. We look forward to the positive impact this partnership will bring across the Challenger PGA Tour and WPGA Tour.”
A signature Rolex clock, familiar at golf tournaments worldwide, will be positioned next to the first tee at Royal Queensland during the BMW Australian PGA Championship in Brisbane from November 21-24. The PGA of Australia, one of the world’s oldest professional golf associations, dates back to 1911, when a group of expatriate Scottish professionals formed a national body to promote the sport and elevate the role of golf professionals in Australia.
Rolex’s deep ties to Australian golf are evident in its support of champions like Adam Scott and Jason Day, who are part of the brand’s family of Testimonees. Rolex has a rich history in golf, starting in 1967 when Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, and Gary Player, known as The Big Three, became the brand’s first ambassadors. This marked the beginning of a decades-long relationship with the sport, built on a shared pursuit of excellence and precision.
Rolex’s presence in golf extends beyond the professional game, with the brand supporting key amateur tournaments globally, including the Augusta National Women’s Amateur, U.S. Amateur Championship, and the Walker Cup. The company’s backing of amateur golf highlights its commitment to the sport’s development and nurturing future talent, with the Managing Director of Rolex Australia, Benoit Falletti, commenting: “Rolex is proud to expand its support of golf in Australia, a country with more than 3.5 million active golf players and some of the world’s top ranking golf courses. The PGA of Australia promotes a thriving industry of golf professionals and presents a world-class tournament with the annual Australian PGA Championship event. We look forward to this exciting new partnership and to further developing the alignment between Rolex and Golf in this region.”
As a not-for-profit organisation, the PGA of Australia represents both tournament and club professionals and plays a critical role in supporting over 3.5 million golfers nationwide. The PGA also owns and manages the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia, which is part of the International Federation of PGA Tours, and oversees prestigious tournaments such as the ISPS HANDA Australian Open and the New Zealand Open. Through education and industry-specific training, the PGA of Australia aims to ensure the continued growth and excellence of the Australian golf industry.
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