Welcome to the 2021 Senior Open Presented by Rolex. This Major returns for the third time to the magnificent Old Course at Sunningdale Golf Club in Berkshire, England, having made its debut as host venue in 2009.
Welcome to the 2021 Senior Open Presented by Rolex. This Major returns for the third time to the magnificent Old Course at Sunningdale Golf Club in Berkshire, England, having made its debut as host venue in 2009.
Rolex’s collaboration with the tournament dates back over two decades and is part of our brand’s enduring commitment to golf. For more than half a century, we have supported the development of the sport at junior, amateur and professional levels worldwide, but it is within the elite senior ranks that the profound links between Rolex and the ancient game are particularly manifest.
The continuous quest for excellence, the will to persevere, advance the discipline and respect its traditions – these are the qualities that unite the brand with the world of golf. They explain why we have fastened our destiny to that of the sport by developing solid, long-lasting and prestigious partnerships with the noblest institutions, the most legendary tournaments and the greatest players.
We are delighted to have Gary Player, the only man to triumph three times at both the Senior Open and The Open, participating in this week’s pro-am. The South African was there at the start of Rolex’s relationship with golf more than 50 years ago, alongside fellow Rolex Testimonees Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus, collectively known as The Big Three. Their friendly but intense rivalry on the course, and tireless efforts to promote the sport off it, were instrumental in modernizing and popularizing the game worldwide.
As always, an elite field is sure to deliver four days of exhilarating golf on one of the most beautiful courses in all of the British Isles, its fairways lined with pine, birch and oak trees and cushioned by perfect heathland turf.
Among this year’s entrants are several decorated Rolex Testimonees, including defending champion Bernhard Langer, who claimed an unprecedented fourth Senior Open trophy at Royal Lytham & St Annes in 2019. The winner of a record 11 senior Major championships, he was also runner-up when the event was last held at Sunningdale six years ago, finishing a stroke behind American Marco Dawson.
The German will be joined by some of the most accomplished players of recent decades, including American Fred Couples, South Africa’s Retief Goosen, and former captains of the Europe team at The Ryder Cup, Colin Montgomerie of Great Britain, Ireland’s Paul McGinley, Spaniard José María Olazábal and Denmark’s Thomas Bjørn.
We are delighted to see the tournament return to the calendar in 2021 following last year’s cancellation and commend our partners of many years, The European Tour and the R&A, for organizing the event in the face of the ongoing challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. I thank them on behalf of Rolex and everyone gathered here.
Finally, may I extend my best wishes to the players. Their enduring commitment to excellence over long and distinguished careers has been crucial to the game’s global appeal.
I wish you all an enjoyable week of top-class golf.
Bertrand Gros, Chairman of the Board, Rolex SA
