Rolex commits to European Tour until 2022

The European Tour announced today that it has secured support from Rolex until the year 2022.

The extended agreement was revealed at a press conference in Dubai this morning, on the eve of the finale to the 2013 European Tour season, the DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates.   George O'Grady, chief executive of the European Tour, described the partnership as "a big leap financially," and a "great confidence booster" for the European Tour on "an amazing day".   "Rolex is going to remain involved in the Ryder Cup," added O'Grady, as he sat alongside European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley and Jean-Noel Bioul, Rolex Communications Senior Advisor.

"But more than that, Rolex is backing all our tours; the European Tour, Senior Tour and Challenge Tour.

Rolex is giving us amazing confidence in the future, to develop the game around the world in the way we think fit."   "To have such an investment from such a premiere brand is tremendous for the Tour and for the Ryder Cup," said McGinley, who flew into Dubai this morning for the announcement.   "The investment from Rolex means we can develop certain tournaments on all three tours," added O'Grady, "and it is enabling us to increase our management structure in terms of marketing and public relations abilities, and to invest in junior golf around the world."   "Rolex is an iconic brand with a great heritage in golf," said Luke Donald, the former world number one talking exclusively to Golf Monthly.

"Rolex has done a great deal to help the European Tour develop over the years, and it is great to see that this relationship is going to continue for next 10 years."   "For us on the European Tour is it very important to be associated with a company like Rolex," said Martin Kaymer, another former world number one, who holed the winning putt for Europe in the 2012 Ryder Cup.

"The European Tour and Rolex have worked closely together for a long time and Rolex brings a lot of experience to the tour. It is a world-class company and I hope the European Tour keeps its relationship with Rolex for a long time to come."   "This is great news for everyone," added Nicolas Colsaerts, the Belgian who made such a memorable Ryder Cup debut at Medinah last year.

"Rolex is committed to golf and to where the game is going, and to what it represents, all over the world. Rolex is always looking to do a job very well done, in a most noble way!"