Golf’s greatest team contest heads to Bethpage Black with Rolex Testimonees vying for glory

With roots dating back to 1927, The Ryder Cup is the biennial contest between Europe and the United States. Led by experienced captains who play a central role in nurturing the group chemistry and put team spirit above all else, 12-player combinations compete over three days for the coveted Samuel Ryder Trophy. Hosted alternately by the PGA of America and Ryder Cup Europe, this year’s edition marks a significant anniversary and milestone within the sport. It is the 45th edition of The Ryder Cup, and 30 years since Rolex first partnered with The Ryder Cup in 1995 as Official Timekeeper of Team Europe.

Photos and text: Rolex Golf©

In 2025, The Ryder Cup will be held at the revered Bethpage Black Golf Course, USA, from 26–28 September, where both teams will strive to continue the tradition of team spirit and fierce competition that defines this prestigious event. Bethpage Black is one of the most iconic golf courses in the United States and is located in suburban Long Island in close proximity to New York City.

Synonymous with tradition, teamwork and sportsmanship, The Ryder Cup honors the collective, with some of the finest champions in the game channeling their special talent for the greater achievement of the group. Fierce battles are waged with utmost respect between opponents, and intergenerational solidarity and camaraderie are at a premium. There is passion and drama aplenty. One of golf’s most sought after prizes, The Ryder Cup enshrines the traditional values of excellence and fair play that are the essence of the sport and which echo Rolex’s own defining philosophy. In 2021, the Swiss watchmaker extended its support to become a Worldwide Partner at all editions of the competition, in both Europe and the United States, and Presenting Partner of the weekly Ryder Cup Points Standings that determine player qualification. 

With a storied history at The Ryder Cup, Rolex Testimonee Luke Donald will once again serve as the European captain at Bethpage Black, returning to the role having successfully led Team Europe to a 16.5 – 11.5 victory against the United States in the 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Rome, Italy. As a player, Donald represented Team Europe on four occasions, with the team winning every time. In his last appearance, in 2012, he led Team Europe out in the singles, securing the first blue point on the board in the so-called Miracle at Medinah. He has also served as a vice-captain in two past editions, including in 2018 under fellow Testimonee Thomas Bjørn. 

Reflecting on the importance of his victory in his debut year as captain in 2023, Luke Donald said: ”To be able to have an opportunity to go back-to-back — as only the second European to ever do that — and create more history, is very tempting to me. Winning away from home isn’t easy, so it will be a big challenge ahead, but I’m really excited about the opportunity”

Captaining the United States is Rolex Testimonee Keegan Bradley, who made the first of his two Ryder Cup appearances as a player in 2012 at the Medinah Country Club in Medinah, Illinois. Commenting on the significance of leading Team USA on home soil in 2025, Keegan Bradley said: ”I’m incredibly humbled and honored to be The Ryder Cup captain for Team USA. Being on a Ryder Cup team changes your life forever. The dream of being a Ryder Cup captain is something that a lot of us don’t even think about because it’s such a prestigious honor — and I never knew if I would get this opportunity. I always felt like this was something I would love to do, and I’m so honored to be able to lead this team and go to Bethpage to win The Ryder Cup back for America”

Showcasing passion and drama in equal measure, The Ryder Cup is golf at its very best, featuring champions from both sides of the Atlantic. Among them will be Rolex Testimonee Scottie Scheffler, who arrives at Bethpage Black in exceptional form — a testament to his composure, determination, and relentless pursuit of excellence. 

Reflecting on his admiration for The Ryder Cup, the World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler said: ”Golf is an individual sport for many weeks of the year, but when it comes to The Ryder Cup, all of us are joined together representing the United States which is a pretty special feeling. It’s a week that is so fun for all of us being able to play together and be partners. It’s a pretty unique thing in our game. Being able to play alternate shot and best ball, and work together to try and bring the trophy back home to the United States is something that we are all really looking forward to doing at Bethpage this fall”

The first tee is a stage unlike any other in international sport. Each edition of this unique competition brings hundreds of thousands of spectators to the course and attracts millions of television viewers worldwide. Golf’s most exciting team event is always intense, raising the passions of players and fans alike as the drama unfolds. It has inspired some of the most memorable duels for nearly a century and perpetuates the very legend of golf. It is defined by the crowd filling the grandstands, the noise, the anticipation and the palpable nerves.

By hosting the 45th Ryder Cup, Bethpage Black Golf Course becomes the second ever New York course to host this prestigious event. While this is the course’s first time hosting a Ryder Cup, Bethpage Black has hosted numerous major championships including the 2019 PGA Championship.

Rolex’s relationship with The Ryder Cup is rooted in the shared values of integrity and respect. These ideals were exemplified in one of the competition’s most iconic moments: the 1969 Ryder Cup, when Rolex Testimonee Jack Nicklaus conceded a short putt to his opponent, securing a tie rather than a win for Team USA. This act of honor and fairness marked the invention of the concession and became a defining symbol of the spirit in which the game should be played. It remains one of the most admired gestures in sport and reflects the enduring commitment Rolex has made to upholding golf’s finest traditions.

U.S. Open: Rolex Testimonees set their sights on victory with The Championship returning to Oakmont Country Club for a historic 10th time 

Photos: ©Rolex / David Cannon, Chris Turvey, Andrew Reddington Text: Rolex Golf©

The U.S. Open is a major championship for all – from seasoned professionals and amateurs to golf legends and newcomers. Every player in the field will be aiming to conquer one of the toughest challenges in golf and etch their name onto the prestigious U.S. Open Trophy. To triumph on one of golf’s biggest stages, players must display peerless precision and an unwavering focus in front of the thousands of adoring fans to navigate the challenges posed by such demanding and formidable courses.

It is the third men’s major of the season and has been conducted by the United States Golf Association (USGA) since 1895. Rolex has been Official Timekeeper at the tournament since 1980, with 2025 celebrating the 45th anniversary of this long-standing and cherished partnership between the Swiss watchmaker and the U.S. Open.

The 125th edition of the U.S. Open will be held from 12–15 June at Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania. Oakmont Country Club is widely regarded as one of the great U.S. golf courses, renowned for The Church Pews bunker between the third and fourth holes. It consistently ranks among the most challenging courses in the major championship rotation.

This year marks the 10th occasion that this iconic venue has hosted the major, more than any other venue. It was here in 1962 that Rolex Testimonee Jack Nicklaus claimed his maiden U.S. Open victory in a thrilling 18-hole playoff against fellow Rolex Testimonee Arnold Palmer. At just 22 years old, and in his first year as a professional, this win not only launched Nicklaus’s legendary career – eventually leading to a record 18 major championships – but also set the stage for one of golf’s most iconic rivalries between Nicklaus and Palmer, built on mutual respect, fierce competition, and enduring friendship. 

The U.S. Open has long been the scene of memorable triumphs for an elite band of Rolex Testimonees – most notably, legend of the game Nicklaus, who shares the record for the most victories, having lifted the U.S. Open Trophy on four occasions (1962, 1967, 1972, 1980). The American competed in 44 consecutive U.S. Open Championships, starting as a 17-year-old amateur in 1957, and finishing as a 60-year-old in 2000.

Rolex Testimonee Bryson DeChambeau returns this year as defending champion, having triumphed at Pinehurst No. 2 in North Carolina to claim a second U.S. Open title following his maiden victory in 2020. His performance at Pinehurst embodied not only precision and power but the relentless spirit of a champion. The American, renowned for his innovative approach, meticulous research and powerful drives, is redefining the modern game and paving the way for a new generation of golfers, serving as an inspiration to those looking to follow in his footsteps and push the limits of golfing excellence.

DeChambeau joined an exclusive group of players to have won the U.S. Open twice or more, including fellow Rolex Testimonees Nicklaus, Curtis Strange (1988, 1989), Tiger Woods (2000, 2002, 2008) and Brooks Koepka (2017, 2018). Other Testimonees to have triumphed at the tournament include Arnold Palmer (1960), Gary Player (1965), Tom Watson (1982), Martin Kaymer (2014), Jordan Spieth (2015), Jon Rahm (2021) and Matt Fitzpatrick (2022).

Ahead of his return as defending champion, Bryson DeChambeau said: ”I’m personally excited for the opportunity to defend. I haven’t been able to defend a tournament in my career and that’s what I intend to do this coming year. It’s always a great tournament at Oakmont, so I’m excited for the challenge. I played well there last time and look forward to doing so again this year. With the game that I’m coming in with, I feel very confident.”

This year marks several other significant anniversaries for members of the Rolex family. It has been 10 years since Spieth won the Masters Tournament and the U.S. Open (2015), becoming only the sixth player to win both of these prestigious events in a single year. It has also been 60 years since Player won his U.S. Open title (1965), completing his career major Grand Slam and becoming only the third player to achieve this feat at the time. This year also marks 25 years since Woods achieved the remarkable feat of winning the PGA Championship, U.S. Open and The Open in a calendar year, the only player in history to have done so. He followed it up by claiming the Green Jacket at the 2001 Masters Tournament to become the first player in the modern era to hold the title at all four major championships simultaneously – a historic achievement coined the ”Tiger Slam”.

Speaking on the significance of his victory in 2015, Jordan Spieth said: ”I found myself on the last four holes, battling them all really. I kept on having differing thoughts – from believing in my chances of winning to thinking I was going to lose, and then expecting to end in a play-off. That is golf and this is something that occurs especially at the U.S. Open. It was probably the most fitting ending to that specific U.S. Open. I just tried to stay very calm, to remain grounded, and appreciative of where I was throughout those months. That night I won, I was surrounded by a lot of family and we were able to celebrate that particular success all together which was nice.”

The U.S. Open dates back to 1895 when the inaugural championship was played at Newport Country Club, Rhode Island. Conducted annually in June, the tournament features the game’s best amateurs and professionals, vying for the coveted U.S. Open Trophy. Any amateur with an up-to-date men’s USGA Handicap Index not exceeding 0.4 can attempt to qualify for the national championship. Qualifying consists of two stages, local and final. Local qualifying is played over 18 holes at more than 100 courses around the United States. Roughly 530 places are available to move on to the final qualifying round, known as ”golf’s longest day”. Final qualifying is played over 36 holes at several sites in the United States, as well as one each in Japan, Canada and Europe. Those who qualify after this stage earn a spot in the U.S. Open’s field of 156 players.

The USGA accepted 10,052 entries for the 2024 U.S. Open, the fourth time the major was held at Pinehurst No. 2. This marked only the third time entries exceeded 10,000, with that number eclipsed two years running. The U.S. Open is synonymous with difficult, demanding conditions, often featuring narrow fairways, thick rough, fast greens and challenging pin placements. To lift the U.S. Open Trophy requires great resilience, physical and mental, with players facing a supreme test of their skills.

A gold medal has been awarded to the tournament winner since 1895, but in 2012, it was officially named the Jack Nicklaus Medal. Those who triumph also receive an exemption into the next 10 editions of the U.S. Open, as well as a guaranteed place at the next five editions of the Masters Tournament, the PGA Championship and The Open. Outside of the major championships, winners also receive a five-year exemption into THE PLAYERS Championship and secure their PGA TOUR® card for the same period.