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Watch brands go head-to-head on the green
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Watch brands go head-to-head on the green

Wednesday, 15 September 2010
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Christophe Roulet
Editor-in-chief, HH Journal

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3 min read

The last days of summer brought a riot of activity to Swiss greens. Between the Omega European Masters and the Audemars Piguet Golf Trophy, it seems Christmas came early for golf enthusiasts… with a couple of horological surprises to boot!

Miguel Angel Jiménez powered to victory after four exciting rounds at this year’s Omega European Masters, played out at Crans-sur-Sierre in Switzerland. Naturally, Omega President Stephen Urquhart was there in person to congratulate the Spanish golfer, and present him with the winner’s trophy. Joining him for the occasion was Greg Norman, who wasn’t only there to enjoy the game: as Omega had announced a few days earlier, golf’s living legend has joined the ranks of Omega “ambassadors” alongside fellow golfers Sergio Garcia and Michelle Wei.

Stephen Urquhart, President of Omega, Miguel Angel Jiménez, winner of the Omega European Masters 2010 and Greg Norman, International Omega Ambassador
Stephen Urquhart, President of Omega, Miguel Angel Jiménez, winner of the Omega European Masters 2010 and Greg Norman, International Omega Ambassador
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In addition to the trophy, Stephen Urquhart presented Miguel Angel Jiménez with a magnificent Omega “Mission Hills World Cup” Constellation Double Eagle Co-Axial Chronograph Titanium. A gift on a par with this sporting achievement… the only “glitch” being that Jiménez bats, so to speak, for Audemars Piguet, as an ambassador for the brand since 2005. In the brand’s words, “Miguel Angel Jiménez’s passion for watches, along with his unique personality and charisma are entirely in tune with the image Audemars Piguet conveys in the world of prestige sports. Over the coming weeks, he will continue to represent the brand around the globe by wearing Audemars Piguet timepieces.”

It’s off the record whether Jiménez switched watches for the ceremony, or stuffed his prize into his pocket… In either case, the Audemars Piguet website is keeping quiet about this particular tournament while making a great show of Jiménez’s victory in the French Alstom Open in July.

A succession of tournaments

The brand is more forthcoming about the success of its own Audemars Piguet Golf Trophy, held a few days earlier, with Miguel Angel Jiménez teeing off. The Trophy marks the brand’s commitment to golf. Indeed, the “AP Golf Ambassador Team” not only boasts Miguel Angel Jiménez and Julien Clément, the top Swiss player, but other leading names such as world number three Lee Westwood, winner of the 2010 US Open, Graeme McDowell, Rory McIlroy, world seventh-ranking player, Vijay Singh and, representing women’s golf, world number two Cristie Kerr and Morgan Pressel.

Golfers have two wrists but it seems that for some, one would be enough!

The brand was also eager to report the presence of a dozen professional golfers at the preview of what it describes as a “surprising watchmaking and artistic exhibition.” In what is now a tradition, the evening coincides with the… Omega European Masters which, of course, is abbreviated to the European Masters in AP’s communication. Golfers have two wrists but it seems that for some, one would be enough!

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