Rolex & The Evian Championship

As Rolex Testimonee, Lydia Ko returns to defend the title which saw her become the youngest woman to win a Major, Rolex continues its long-standing alliance with one of the game’s most iconic events, The Evian Championship, as Official Timekeeper.

Rolex Testimonee, Lydia Ko said: “It is exciting to be back at The Evian Championship, particularly as defending Champion. The event has an incredibly unique spirit and its prestige is clear from its past-champions, such as my fellow Rolex Testimonee, Annika Sorenstam, who I take great inspiration from on and off the golf course.”

From 15 – 18 September, 120 of the leading Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) golfers will tee up to compete for the final Major of the year. Among the favorites joining Ko is fellow Rolex Testimonee Lexi Thompson. The American has a clear affinity for the French resort, finishing in second place in 2015 and securing four top-ten finishes in five appearances at the event. Together, the young athletes are recognized as part of the New Guard in golf, whose international success and youthful vigor actively encourages the future strength of the game.

Rolex Director of Communication & Image, Arnaud Boetsch said: “Rolex is proud to be associated with the elite players in women’s golf and to support the organizations and events that provide the platform for the players’ success.

Rolex and The Evian Championship’s collaboration serves to establish a stage that respects the abundance of skill in the current field of women’s golf.

Arnaud Boetsch continued: “The Evian Championship holds a privileged position among our partnerships through its promotion of the unique virtues of the women’s game. The Major championship is an important showcase of the shared commitment of Rolex and its partners to promoting golf throughout the world.”

The unfolding drama of the LPGA’s final Major championship of the year will take place at the Evian Resort, an idyllic setting above Lake Geneva in Evian-les-Bains. The Alpine golf course will once again provide a setting that is as elegant as it is challenging. Following the addition of two international qualifiers in USA and Korea, the field will welcome the most internationally represented line-up in the event’s history.

Rolex and The Evian Championship’s endeavors to grow the game extend beyond the women’s professional game to the future golfers of tomorrow, with The Evian Championship Juniors Cup. As the tournament enters its 10th year, the merits of its success are evident in the current field; previous competitors include Rolex Testimonees Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas. To mark the 10th anniversary and to continue its innovation in golf development, competitors in the 2016 edition will be awarded complimentary green fees for life at Evian Resort Golf Club – an exciting proposition for young players to develop their game at the iconic golfing venue.

The partnership between Rolex and women’s golf is one of the longest-standing relationships in golf, with Rolex supporting the LPGA and its initiatives for over three decades. Commenting on the significance of the partnership, LPGA Commissioner, Mike Whan, said: “Rolex is a company that understands the LPGA and our goals. What makes them a great partner is that they are more than just a sponsor; they also want to help us grow the game.”

One such product of the combined forces between Rolex, the LPGA and one of the greatest women’s golfers of all time, Rolex Testimonee Annika Sorenstam, is the Rolex ANNIKA Major Award. The annual award honors the player with the most outstanding record in all five Major championships.

Rolex support of the LPGA’s barometers of success extends to the Rolex Player of Year and Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year as well as the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings, the first ever world rankings system for women’s golf.

This broad spectrum of alliances with such awards, The Evian Championship and the LPGA single the Swiss watchmaker out as the leading supporter of women’s golf.