It wasn’t as much the final major of the year as it was a coronation. Rolex Testimonee Scottie Scheffler blitzed the field at this year’s The Open Championship at Royal Portrush Golf Club with a flawless display that awed the fans as well as steamrolled any pretenders to his world number one throne.

In a display of peerless precision and composure, the American triumphed at golf’s oldest major, expertly navigating the storied links of Northern Ireland to lift the coveted Claret Jug. The victory marks Scheffler’s fourth major title and his first at The Open, making him just the eighth player in history to complete three legs of the career Grand Slam before the age of 30.

The Open is the final men’s major championship of the season, with the 2025 edition of the iconic event proving to be a hotly contested affair for the world’s best players seeking to claim one of sport’s most revered prizes. Royal Portrush, hosting the Championship for only the third time, once again proved itself a fitting and unforgettable venue.

Set against a backdrop of sweeping coastal views and formidable North Atlantic scenery, the course is celebrated not only for its natural beauty, but also for its compelling sequencing of holes. In 1951, Royal Portrush became the first venue outside Great Britain to host the major. Following a 68-year absence, the Championship returned to Northern Ireland in 2019.

The Open, golf’s original championship, is played on a rotation of the finest links courses across England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. These renowned venues offer exceptional quality and spectacular settings, testing the mettle of the world’s leading golfers as they compete for the coveted Claret Jug, awarded to the Champion Golfer of the Year since 1872. Those seeking to etch their names into golf’s annals must brave the elements, embrace the sport’s challenges and uphold its enduring traditions.

In 1981, Rolex clocks appeared on a Championship golf course for the first time, at Royal St. George’s for The Open. Every year since, they have adorned the course hosting the Championship. The Open is organised by The R&A, which, together with the United States Golf Association (USGA), governs the sport of golf worldwide, sharing a commitment to a single code for the Rules of Golf, Rules of Amateur Status, the World Handicapping System and Equipment Standards. Rolex’s long-standing relationship with The R&A has been a defining milestone in its association with golf, reflecting a shared sense of respect, integrity and competitive spirit. This partnership, established more than 40 years ago, has exemplified the brand’s deep-rooted commitment to the sport.
Scheffler arrived at Royal Portrush in supreme form, having won the PGA Championship and Memorial Tournament earlier in the season, and finishing seventh at the U.S. Open. At Royal Portrush, the World No. 1 carded rounds of 68, 64, 67, and 68, posting a winning total of 17-under-par, securing a convincing four-stroke victory over a strong international field.

The win marked his 13th title since the beginning of last year — a stretch that includes victories at three different major championships as well as an Olympic gold medal. With his first Open victory, Scheffler also became just the second player in history to win The Open while ranked World No. 1, joining fellow Rolex Testimonee Tiger Woods, who achieved the feat three times (2000, 2005, 2006).

“Being able to walk up 18 with the tournament in hand is a really tough thing to describe,” the affable Scheffler said after winning the Claret Jug. “It’s a really cool feeling. I have a lot of gratitude towards being able to accomplish something like this. It’s taken a lot of work — not only a lot of work, but it takes a lot of patience. It›s a high level of focus over 72 holes of a tournament. This was, I felt like, one of my best performances mentally. We did a really good job of staying in it all week.”

This perseverance and celebration of excellence mirrors the belief of the brand of which Scheffler is an ambassador. Rolex has celebrated human achievement at the highest levels of golf for almost 60 years, with the Swiss watchmaker being Official Timekeeper of the Championship since 1981. Rolex shares a deep affinity with the enduring traditions and spirit of this celebrated championship.

To win The Open requires strategic intelligence, adaptability, and unwavering self-belief — values deeply aligned with Rolex’s own pursuit of perpetual excellence. Scheffler’s triumph will be remembered as a defining moment in a remarkable career. As the 2025 Champion Golfer of the Year, Scottie Scheffler adds another distinguished chapter to both his personal legacy and the proud tradition of The Open.

Several other members of the Rolex family also delivered notable performances at the 2025 edition of The Open. Matt Fitzpatrick, in pursuit of his second major title, finished in fourth place following a strong start to the week at Royal Portrush. Bryson DeChambeau produced a remarkable run in his final three rounds, with scores of 65, 68, and 64 to secure a top-10 finish. Other Rolex Testimonees who impressed included Rickie Fowler, Hideki Matsuyama and
Ludvig Åberg, who finished tied for 14th, tied for 16th and tied for 23rd, respectively.

Scheffler has joined an illustrious group of past winners that includes Arnold Palmer (1961, 1962), Jack Nicklaus (1966, 1970, 1978), Gary Player (1959, 1968, 1974), Tom Watson (1975, 1977, 1980, 1982, 1983), Tiger Woods (2000, 2005, 2006), Phil Mickelson (2013), Jordan Spieth (2017), Francesco Molinari (2018) and Collin Morikawa (2021).

Rolex is deeply committed to golf, and its values, which includes an association with the elite amateur tournaments across the globe. The Swiss manufacturer’s support of the game and its custodians is built on a strong sense of integrity and respect for tradition that promote the continuity of expertise and transfer of knowledge, and an understanding of the importance of investing in the sport’s development for future generations.