ABU DHABI CELEBRATES SUCCESSFUL INAUGURAL YEAR AS ROLEX SERIES EVENT

Geneva, Switzerland, Tuesday, 22 January 2019 – The first Rolex Series event of the European Tour’s 2019 International Schedule has come to a close following four days of thrilling golf in the stunning surroundings of the Abu Dhabi Golf Club.

Irishman Shane Lowry completed a wire-to-wire finish, ending each round at the top of the leaderboard, with an impressive score of -18, just one stroke ahead of South African runner-up Richard Sterne.

This year’s tournament proved especially important for Rolex Testimonee Dominic Foos who not only played in his first Rolex Series tournament, but also his first European Tour event, finishing in 11th place alongside fellow Rolex Testimonee Rafa Cabrera-Bello. One place ahead of them in tenth position was American and three-time Major winner Brooks Koepka who made a return to compete in Abu Dhabi for the first time in five years.

ABOUT THE ROLEX SERIES

Through an unwavering commitment to the game of golf for more than 50 years, Rolex has developed one of the broadest and most enduring relationships between brand and sport in the world.

Rolex has always contributed to the further development of golf worldwide through its partnerships with guardians of the global game – organizations with the responsibility of advancing the sport, such as the European Tour.
 
Coinciding with the 20th anniversary of this partnership, in 2017 the Rolex Series was launched as the premium tournament category on the European Tour’s International Schedule. Presently comprising eight tournaments staged in a variety of locations around the world, Rolex Series events offer a minimum prize fund of US$7 million.
 
The 2019 roster of Rolex Series tournaments comprises: the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship presented by EGA (January 16-19); the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open hosted by the Rory Foundation (July 4-7); the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open (July 11-14); the BMW PGA Championship (September 19-22); the Italian Open (October 10-13); the Turkish Airlines Open (November 7-10); the Nedbank Golf Challenge hosted by Gary Player (November 14-17); and the season-ending DP World Tour Championship, Dubai (November 21-24), where the leading golfer of the Race to Dubai Rankings presented by Rolex will be crowned.

ABOUT ROLEX

An unrivalled reputation for quality and expertise

Rolex, a Swiss watch manufacture headquartered in Geneva, is recognized the world over for its expertise and the quality of its products. Its Oyster and Cellini watches, all certified as Superlative Chronometers for their precision, performance and reliability, are symbols of excellence, elegance and prestige. The word “Perpetual” is inscribed on every Rolex Oyster. But more than just a word on a dial, it is a philosophy that embodies the company’s vision and values. From the beginning, in 1905, founder Hans Wilsdorf instilled a spirit of continuous improvement. This led Rolex to pioneer the development of the wristwatch and numerous major watchmaking innovations, such as the Oyster, the first waterproof wristwatch, launched in 1926, and the Perpetual rotor self-winding mechanism, invented in 1931. Rolex has registered over 500 patents in the course of its history. A truly integrated and independent manufacturing company, Rolex designs, develops and produces in-house the essential components of its watches, from the casting of the gold alloys to the machining, crafting, assembly and finishing of the movement, case, dial and bracelet. Furthermore, Rolex is actively involved in supporting the arts and culture, sport and exploration, as well as the preservation of the planet.