If we cast our minds back to December 2020, Christiaan had just completed the first of back-to-back victories on the DP World Tour at the Alfred Dunhill Championship at Leopard Creek. As he held aloft that weighty bronze leopard trophy, the discerning observer would have spotted the elegant IWC Portugieser Perpetual Calendar 42 in stainless steel on his wrist. 

“I’ve always loved the proportions of IWC timepieces,” comments Christiaan. “The models I favour are fairly substantial, but they also have a style and elegance about them which I think is unmatched in any other watch brand. The specialness, for want of a better word, never wears off. In quiet moments I can find myself admiring the little details, the craftsmanship and the attention to detail that goes into making one of these beautiful timepieces.”

Soon after that historic DP World Tour double in 2020, Christiaan became a global ambassador for IWC. Ever since then, wherever in the world you see Christiaan on the golf course, you’ll see the IWC logo on his PXG Apparel shirt collar. 

“It’s an honour for me to be associated with a brand like IWC,” adds Christiaan. “My relationship with them has afforded me the privilege of building a small collection of beautiful timepieces and I treasure every one of them. It’s one of the few luxuries in life that means something to me; each watch marks a special moment in time in my career and my life.”

Christiaan proudly brings to mind one recent instance in particular, an 18-carat gold Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 with an eye-catching green dial and green strap, presented to him in commemoration of his participation in the Paris Olympics in 2024. 

“That was obviously an incredible week and the green-gold of that particular watch makes me think of the colours of the South African flag and how special it is to represent your country. Whether it’s the Olympics or the Presidents Cup, I want to experience that feeling as many times as possible in my career. There’s really nothing else like it.”

Founded in 1868 by the American watchmaker and entrepreneur Florentine Aristo Jones, IWC Schaffhausen has developed a reputation for creating functional complications, especially chronographs and calendars, which are ingenious, robust, and easy for customers to use. IWC specialises in highly engineered technical watch cases manufactured from advanced materials. Preferring the principle of ‘form follows function’ over decoration its timeless creations embody their owners’ dreams and ambitions. IWC sources materials responsibly and takes action to minimise its impact on the environment, creating intrinsically sustainable timepieces that are built to last for generations.

Franziska Gsell Etterlin, CMO for IWC, commented: “Christiaan has been a part of the IWC family for five years, and since then, he has continued to demonstrate an unwavering level of precision, dedication, and perseverance. He truly embodies the spirit of IWC, and we are excited to continue this journey together.”

For more information about IWC, visit the website: www.iwc.com.