Rolex, which has been involved in golf since the early 1960s, also renewed its agreement as official timekeeper to the European Tour for the next five years.
The company first became a sponsor of the Open Championship in 1978 and has also been a supporter of the US Golf Association since the early 1980s as well as a sponsor of the LPGA in the United States for more than ten years.
Under the new agreement, Rolex will be a Ryder Cup Official Sponsor in 2001 at The De Vere Belfry from September 28-30 and in 2005 at The K Club in Ireland. It will also be a sponsor of the European Team in 2003 at Oakland Hills, Michigan, USA.
Rolex clocks will be positioned around the course at The De Vere Belfry and strategically around the complex to encompass the Media Centre, putting green, public catering and tented village.
Rolex?s sponsorship of the European Tour involves support of a number of tournaments in key markets, ranging from the Volvo PGA Championship at Wentworth to the Trophee Lancome in Paris and the Volvo Masters in Southern Spain at the end of the season.
Watch manufacturer Rolex has agreed to be a sponsor at golf?s next two Ryder Cups within Europe and of the 2003 European team when the matches are played in the United States.
