As an avid lover of this sport and of course a devoted watch collector and enthusiast, writing about golf and its relationship with watches as the closing piece for our “In Play” miniseries – A sports and horology retrospective – is extremely satisfying.

Golf has become something of a therapeutic escape for me as of late. And while escaping, I always make sure to bring along my favorite companion: A watch. 

Something that many watch people, like myself, would consider a bad idea. The aggressive nature of this rather slow and poised sport is not one that is suitable for a fine timepiece. 

However, when done right, and by the right people, it’s a match made in heaven. 

On any day at the club, you might notice something beyond the manicured greens: a glow on a golfer’s wrist. Beyond the cool style choice, golf and watches have long clicked. There were times when pro shops (the stores in golf clubs that sell equipment) used to stock used Rolexes. And in typical gentlemanly fashion, players swap stories often while checking the time – and/or the instrument that displays it – and therefore, the clubhouse becomes “a space where worlds of golf and timekeeping blend seamlessly”. Or to put it simply, somewhere with people with good enough taste (and fat enough bank accounts) with whom watches could be a conversation starter.

On A Bigger Scale ? 

Rolex caught on early. In 1967 Arnold Palmer signed as the brand’s first golf “Testimonee,” sparking an era where Rolex became official timekeeper for the Masters, The Open and many tour events. The sponsor list grew to include the entire “Big Three” – Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player – each famously wearing the gold Rolex Day-Date. Hodinkee even calls that model “the pro tour’s horological benchmark”. These days, Rolex logos majestically watch over every green and fairway, making it known that the crown sits on top.

On the topic of OG legendary golfers and their watches,

Mr. Jack Nicklaus and his trusty Day-Date deserve a chapter of their own. Phillips auctioneers noted that Jack wore the yellow-gold Day-Date “nearly every day” he won a major, and Nicklaus himself said it was “the first watch I ever owned, and the only watch I wore for every tournament I’ve won”. It was basically his lucky charm on the presidential links. When he finally parted with it in 2019, the watch’s storied history – 18 major titles and counting – made it a multimillion-dollar sale to benefit his children’s charities.

Other legends made statements in steel and gold too. Seve Ballesteros joined the squad by the early ’80s, choosing a yellow-gold Day-Date to match his flamboyant game. Payne Stewart, on the other hand, played the contrast card: he won the 1991 U.S. Open wearing knickerbockers and a Ben Hogan flat cap, with a slim yellow-gold Ebel chronograph on his wrist. Hodinkee wryly notes that Stewart’s Ebel “was really understated compared to the rest of his outfit” – a polite way of saying he let the pastel sweater do the talking.

The Newer/Younger Guys ?

Rory McIlroy (The man who made me cry this year on the Masters) by contrast,

has been an Omega man since 2013. So when he finally clinched the Masters in April 2025, he celebrated by strapping on an Omega Speedmaster “Silver Snoopy Award” 50th Anniversary. A playful twist on the classic green-and-gold celebration. (His wife Erica joined the party too, matching her rose-gold 35mm Patek Nautilus with the occasion.)

“Chef” Min Woo Lee – the most interesting person you’ll read about in this article – plays fast, dresses sharp, and doesn’t miss a moment to post a mid-round fit check.

But look closer and you’ll catch something unexpected on his wrist: a De Bethune. That’s right — while most of the tour’s elite are playing it safe with Rolex or Omega, Min Woo’s out there strapping on a DB28xs “Starry Seas,” a wildly avant-garde piece of independent watchmaking that looks more Blade Runner than country club.

It’s not just for photos, either. He actually wears it while playing — bombing drives with a six-figure micro-mechanical sculpture clinging to his wrist. The DB28xs is light, shock-resistant, and stunningly weird in the best way: blue titanium case, floating lugs, and a dial that mimics rippling starlight. It’s the kind of watch that collectors obsess over and casual fans mistake for a gadget.

Keith Mitchell might be the most stylish golfer of our generation.

He made headlines with a sudden-death playoff win and of course his sartorial flair. Hodinkee’s Ben Clymer sat down with him and noted Mitchell is “known not only for his success on the pro tour but also for his sense of style and his deep love of watches”. Mitchell proved the point by showing up one day wearing a classic Cartier Tank on the course. A freaking Cartier Tank guys… I want to do that with mine but since I don’t even trust its water resistance, I’d be reaching if I put it under so much shock. Some guys are just too cool…

It’s all about the Media if we’re being honest.

Watches and golf mingle in the public sphere. Golf media and watch journalists thrive on the intersection of their fields. Spotting a killed piece on a champion’s wrist is now almost as newsworthy as the score itself.

On the marketing side, watchmakers court the golf market directly. Tag Heuer and Garmin advertise golf-specific smartwatch features; Omega sponsors international tournaments and even the Olympics (where golf returned in 2016); and connected golf watch ads run during Majors for the “tech-savvy player” AKA tech bros. Even retailers get involved – for instance, Bob’s Watches (a pre-owned Rolex dealer) sponsors PGA Tour events. 

The message is clear: golf is about precision and lifestyle, so a finely crafted watch fits right in the clubhouse.

The Ladies ?

They are in on the act too. Rolex’s female ambassadors read like a dream team: Lydia Ko, Brooke Henderson, Nelly Korda, Maria Fassi and others on tour, plus Hall-of-Famers like Lorena Ochoa and Annika Sörenstam. 

Omega’s roster includes Danielle Kang, Celine Boutier and Michelle Wie. Beyond sponsorship, many women golfers simply love their watches. LPGA star Alison Lee said she used to have a superstition that she had to wear a watch during tournaments – “otherwise I’d know I’d mess up my swing”. Her first Rolex, a gift after her rookie year, meant so much she ultimately gave it to her mother. It’s a lovely reminder that for players, a watch can be both a talisman and a family heirloom – more than bling basically, it’s part of the game and their story.

At the end of the day, golf and watches share a single mindset: a love of precision and tradition. Every approach shot must land just right, and every gear must click just so. Whether on a 19 hole course or in a manufacture, in golf as in horology, it’s all about perfection. The sweet spot of all of this is being both a collector and a golfer. For collectors, a golfer proudly showing off a vintage GMT on a Sunday morning is almost as thrilling as spotting a hole-in-one.