SpotlightRun up to the 2017 PGA Championship: Pro golfers and their luxury watches
While the 99th PGA season has a lot at stake: massive sponsors, fat paychecks, an Omega luxury watch and above all the PGA championship cup, let's take a look at 'who wears what'!
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“Some of us worship in churches, some in synagogues, some on golf courses.” Adlai Stevenson
Charlotte, North Carolina, is all charged up for its major event- the 2017 PGA Championship. It is time to see which pro golfer tames the Quail Hollow greens, the home ground for the 99th season of the championship. PGA Championship is a part of ‘the majors’, the four most prestigious annual tournaments in professional golf.
Golf is a sheer game of luxury, owing its origin to the land of bagpipers – Scotland. With greens spread across yards, it is a beautiful amalgamation of leisure and luxury. Golf has been termed as the ‘game of life’, a ‘game of misses’ and has more profound metaphors. But what happens when Golf turns competitive? Well, it leads to thrilling rounds of putts and swings and a spectacular viewing delight.
As golf and watch enthusiasts, for us at The Watch Guide, it is a double jackpot! Not only are we privy to some game changing ‘birdies’ but we also get to spot the best watches from extremely high-end luxury watch brands. As we gear up for the 2017 PGA Championship, let’s take a look at the string of exquisite timepieces that pro golfers love parading.
Hublot Domination- Dustin Johnson
Current rank: World number 1
Johnson flaunts a brand that lives up to his ranking – Hublot. His immaculate drives have not only earned him an image as the most gifted and athletic player on the circuit, but also the spot as Hublot’s brand ambassador. 2016’s “Player of the Year” loves his Hublot timepiece and has a special place for the brand, terming their watches as “unique”. The American golfer wears a big, bold and sporty timepiece from the Hublot Big Bang Unico collection. The collection also has a fan in the fastest man alive- Usain Bolt.
Deconstructing: The Big Bang Unico is a “fusion between the traditional and the cutting-edge”. Unico is known for its flawless performance, thanks to the HUB1242 movement, which is hand assembled with 300 different components. The case is mighty, modern and ergonomic at 45 mm. Hublot’s adept worldliness at making “scratch proof” ceramic cases is reflected in the Big Bang. The 72-hour power reserve in the watch is sure to outlast any golf circuit.
The black skeleton dial of the Big Bang features a great complication- the chronograph flyback. The three rhodium plated and micro blasted sword shaped hour, minute, and seconds hands are fuelled with Lume. The most interesting feature is the design of the date window at 3 o’clock. As the latest ambassador for Hublot, Johnson now shares the podium with the likes of Pele, Kobe Bryant, and José Mourinho. This to us seems like “a perfect match” and we echo the golfer’s aspiration to “hoist a few trophies with a Hublot on my wrist.” You can discover more on the Hublot Bing Bang, here.
Omega’s Pride- Rory Mcllroy
Current rank: World number 4
2014 was Omega’s year at the PGA Championship and looks like history is set to repeat itself. The season had Omega etched all over it for two reasons- Omega is PGA’s official American sponsor, which meant that the numero uno golfer was not just entitled to a glittering trophy but also an Omega time piece. The second, a great co-incidence, then number 1 Rory, also an Omega ambassador, actually won the tournament! He chose the 43mm Aqua Terra GMT for the prize ceremony, a historic moment, and received a gorgeous Seamaster Planet Ocean 600. It is a big deal in the sporting world for a brand ambassador to clinch the title of his sponsor’s title tournament.
Deconstructing: The Aqua Terra GMT as the name suggests is a timepiece from “Omega’s rich maritime heritage”. The watch has a beautiful teak pattern on a blue dial. It has four hands- the basic hour, minute, seconds and the red tipped GMT hand. The latter takes one rotation around the dial every 24 hours. The watch is packed with features- it has a time zone function, a second-time zone, and a chronometer, which make it an aptly suited for a sports personality like Rory, who tours the world often and needs a durable and reliable watch.
Discover the Aqua Terra collection at Ethos
In-house movement– The Omega Co-Axial calibre 8605 movement is visible via the transparent case back. Looking at the golfer’s current impressive form, The Watch Guide has its bet on Rory Mcllroy as the potential champion in the 2017 PGA Championship. With this lies the hope for Omega to beam with pride again. Explore the Omega Aqua Terra collection here.
Omega’s Seasoned Master- Sergio Garcia
Current rank: World number 5
The title sponsors for PGA Championship also have the current World number 5 on their roster- Sergio Garcia, increasing their bid to lift the cup this year again. The Spanish golfer is known for his “explosive drives and for his exuberant style of play”. He has been an Omega Ambassador since 2003 and shares the same values as the brand he represents, i.e., class and substance. The Spaniard looks in terrific form and 2017 seems to be his year of victories. He clinched his first major title – The Masters and the Omega Dubai Desert Classic. At the Masters, not only was it a nail biter between Garcia and Justin Rose, but also a war between Omega and Hublot, as they’re both ambassadors for the luxury brands respectively. Garcia wore a ceramic GMT Diver’s watch from the “Deep Black Collection”, to receive the prestigious ‘green jacket’.
Like a true Ambassador, Garcia has been spotted wearing various Omega models for his ‘big moments’. After his 2014 Qatar Masters and Ryder Cup wins, Sergio was spotted in a Seamaster Planet Ocean. He also owns a rose gold and steel Aqua terra chronometer and a special edition Omega Constellation Double Eagle Chronograph.
Deconstructing the Omega “Black Black”: The seasoned professional, for his latest victory outing in Dubai, donned an Omega “Black Black” Dark Side of The Moon. Not only did he win a fortune but also a Seamaster Aqua Terra, as Omega were the title sponsors. The timepiece is literally a ‘black beauty’ with a brushed and polished ceramic 44.25 mm case and a deep matt black dial. The watch gets its nickname thanks to its “brushed blackened Moonwatch-style hands and blackened applied indexes – all of which are coated with black Super-LumiNova”.
Discover the Omega Speedmaster collection at Ethos
Dynamic Omega movement: The watch has a black lacquered tachymeter and an Omega Co-Axial calibre 9300 movement. The Watch Guide predicts that after his latest redemption, there is nothing holding Garcia back from a shot at the cup. View the entire Omega Speedmaster collection here.
Panerai’s Volatile Pro: Billy Horschel
Current rank: World number 45
Though lesser known than others on the list, currently ranked at the 45th position, Billy Horschel has the potential to win the cup as much as his experienced counterparts. The Panerai watch enthusiast has been trending in 2017 for his personal life, but the golfer’s game has been on the ascent as well. The American pro golfer beat Jason Day to mark his first victory in three years. Last, when he won the Fed Ex Cup in 2014, Billy Horschel chose his all-time favorite Panerai GMT 320 for the very special appearance. The golfer also tweeted how besotted he was with his Panerai- “Loving my new Panerai Luminor GMT.”
Deconstructing: The Panerai GMT 320 is a stylish vintage watch, inspired by the timepieces popular amongst Italian navy officials in older days. The GMT 320 has a three-day power reserve, second-time zone, and a power reserve display. It displays classic Panerai features like a cushion shaped case and a sandwich dial. The Panerai Luminor 1950 has large Arabic numerals and hour indices, all powered with luminous material. The Panerai watch has a gorgeous brown crocodile leather strap, machine sewed to perfection.
Discover the Panerai collection at Ethos
The striking Panerai movement: The sapphire crystal see-through case back makes for a perfect viewing of the precise Caliber P.9001. The GMT 320 has a three-day power reserve, second-time zone, a power reserve display and 29 jewels to reduce friction. Like Billy, the Panerai GMT is a versatile watch which will always deliver the best performance. The Watch Guide will be glued to see how the emotive champion will flair at the 2017 PGA Championship. You can view the Panerai Luminor Luminor 1950 collection, here.
Winning the PGA Championship not only guarantees a golfer a fat cheque but also a host of sponsors including the most elite watch brands. The Watch Guide is inquisitive to see whether a favourite will lift the cup, or will it be a bolt from the blue, with a new comer stealing the thunder. View all the above watch collections at Ethos Watch Boutiques.
Did your favourite pro golfers and watch enthusiasts make the list? Who do you predict will win the cup this year? Tell us in the comments section below.
