McIlroy’s Ryder Cup Win Changes the Legacy of Omega’s Hottest Watch

After wearing it twice during golf’s biggest moments in 2025, Rory McIlroy is rewriting the story of Omega’s coveted modern space watch.

Close-up of a wristwatch with a blue fabric strap and a silver case. The watch face is white with blue subdials and blue hour markers. The bezel is blue with white tachymeter markings. The background features a stylized golden trophy on an orange backdrop.

By Ben Bowers

Published 1 hour ago

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Updated 44 minutes ago

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The 2025 Ryder Cup was rife with raw emotion, last-minute heroics, heated team selections, and unforgettable crowd drama. The tournament even drew presidential attention, with headline-making moments that sparked debate both on and off the course.

Amidst the chaos and euphoria of the victory celebrations from Team Europe, one accessory quietly stole our attention again.

A man wearing a white cap and a white shirt is kissing a gold trophy cup. He has a white and red flag draped over his shoulders. The trophy has a small golfer figurine on top and engraved text on its base. The man is also wearing a wristwatch with a dark strap and a silver ring on his left hand. — There’s no mistaking the Omega Speedmaster Silver Snoopy Award 50th Anniversary edition on Rory Mcllroy’s wrist while kissing the 2025 Ryder Cup trophy.

It was an unmistakable and coveted space-themed timepiece worn by Rory McIlroy, that, thanks to his fandom – and official status as an Omega ambassador – is steadily building a new legacy as one of the most familiar watches in the history of professional golf.

Space Race Origins

Omega Speedmaster Professional watch with a white dial and blue subdials, featuring a Snoopy illustration on the left subdial. The watch has a blue tachymeter bezel and a blue fabric strap with white stitching. The background includes a drawing of Snoopy and the text "FIRST BEAGLE ON THE MOON. — Our own watch expert, Johnny Brayson, describes the 50th-anniversary edition of the Silver Snoopy Omega Speedmaster series as “maybe the coolest watch Omega has ever made.”

Few modern watches come with as rich a space narrative as Omega’s celebrated “Silver Snoopy Award” series.

Like any watch in Omega’s iconic Speedmaster line, these special releases benefit from the legacy as the first watch in space, while adding another connection to one of the most famous cartoon characters of all time and a famous NASA award.

NASA’s Silver Snoopy Award is a prestigious honor given directly by astronauts to individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to flight safety and mission success within the space program.

The Nasa Silver Snoopy Award pin shown resting in a black jewelry box. The box is sitting on top of a cartoon drawing of Snoopy that matches the silver pin of him floating in space. Snoopy is white and the background of the cartoon is a royal blue. — The Silver Snoopy Award is a high honor described in the following way by NASA: “The Silver Snoopy best symbolizes the intent and spirit of Space Flight Awareness. An astronaut always presents the Silver Snoopy because it is the astronauts’ own award for outstanding performance, contributing to flight safety and mission success. Fewer than 1 percent of the aerospace program workforce receive it annually, making it a special honor to receive this award. The award is a sterling silver Snoopy lapel pin that has flown in space, plus a certificate of appreciation and commendation letter for the employee, both signed by the astronaut.”

Established in 1968, the award was created to increase public recognition of key contributors beyond the celebrated astronauts themselves. Fewer than one percent of the aerospace workforce receive the award annually, underscoring its exclusivity and importance.

Recipients are presented with a certificate signed by an astronaut and a sterling silver Snoopy lapel pin—uniquely, the pin has flown in space—which further connects the beloved Peanuts character to NASA’s legacy of exploration and achievement.

the animated caseback of an omega watch featuring snoopy — The standout feature of the Omega Speedmaster Anniversary series celebrating the 50th anniversary of the brand receiving the Silver Snoopy award is actually the caseback. As Omega describes it, “the NAIAD LOCK caseback .. has been decorated on the sapphire crystal using micro-structured metallization. An animated Snoopy in his Command and Service Module (CSM) is shown on a magical hand, which rotates when the chronograph function is used. Behind, an Earth disc rotates once per minute in sync with the watch’s small seconds hand.”

The celebrated Silver Snoopy Award Speedmaster 50th Anniversary Edition stands out as a personal favorite for our watch editor, Johnny Brayson, and has been a recurring fixture in our coverage since its debut back in 2020.

This striking Speedmaster pairs a blue-and-white design with a tribute to Omega’s milestone—the 50th anniversary of Omega receiving the Silver Snoopy Award from NASA in 1970.

Powered by Omega’s manual-winding Co-Axial Master Chronometer Caliber 3861, this 42mm steel chronograph remains one of the most coveted pieces among collectors, praised for both artistry and historical significance

It features the beloved beagle spacewalking with the words “Snoopy the Astronaut” in silver relief in the 9 o’clock subdial.

The watch’s case back also shows Snoopy in a spacecraft (the Command and Service Module) exploring the far side of the moon like during the Apollo mission.

McIlroy’s golf career in 2025 has been stratospheric enough to warrant wearing a watch celebrating space exploration.

Getty Images/Jared C. Tilton

And even more impressively, when the chronograph seconds hand is activated, Snoopy flies behind the moon decorated into the foreground the rear sapphire crystal.

Though it isn’t technically a limited edition, acquiring the Silver Snoopy can require jumping through serious hoops—waitlists, boutique relationships, and constant monitoring—just to get on an authorized dealer’s radar.

A Growing Golf Legacy

A man with short curly dark hair and a blue scarf around his neck is sitting with his eyes closed, touching his face with his right hand. He is wearing a silver ring on his ring finger and a wristwatch with a white face and blue bezel on his wrist. A microphone and a can are visible in the foreground, and the background is red with blurred text. — Rory Mcllroy was per usual, a major character in the 2025 Ryder Cup. And per usual as a brand ambassador for Omega, he was seen wearing a notable Omega Sports Watch. What was different about this tournament was how many headlines Mcllroy generated that had nothing to do with is play, such as arguing with aggressive crowds and even taunting President Trump after winning the tournament.

When Rory McIlroy clinched his career Grand Slam at the 2025 Masters, eagle-eyed fans noticed the Silver Snoopy Award Speedmaster on his wrist.

Fast-forward to the 2025 Ryder Cup, and Rory chose the same watch again to celebrate another legendary European performance.

McIlroy has worn plenty of standout watches over the years, which is why his repeated wearing of the Omega Speedmaster Silver Snoopy Award 50th Anniversary raises an intriguing possibility.

Rory McIlroy is shown with his hand in the air waving at the 2025 Masters Green Jacket Ceremony. Rory is wearing a navy nike golf shirt, white pants an Omega Speedmaster "Silver Snoopy Award" 50th Anniversary Series watch on his wrist. Behind him are men blurred in the background wearing green jackets. — Rory McIlroy was seen waving to the crowd at the 2025 Masters while wearing an Omega Speedmaster “Silver Snoopy Award” 50th Anniversary series watch ahead of finally receiving his first green jacket.

Could he reshape this Speedmaster’s place in history the way Paul Newman elevated the Rolex Daytona from an under-the-radar chronograph into one of the most coveted watches of all-time?

Sure, Snoopy may always win the popularity vote on charm alone. But if McIlroy keeps matching his watch game to the same level of consistency he’s shown on the course in 2025, don’t be shocked if future collectors end up calling this piece “The McIlroy Speedmaster” one day.

Pricing and Availability

The Omega Speedmaster Silver Snoopy Award 50th Anniversary retails for $11,200, but secondary market prices in 2025 routinely top $16,000 for unworn examples.

With Rory McIlroy’s continued high-profile promotion, both its market value and watch lore are only likely to rise.

Omega Speedmaster Silver Snoopy Award watch

Omega Speedmaster “Silver Snoopy Award” 50th Anniversary Edition

$11,200 at omegawatches.com

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About the Author: Ben Bowers is the Co-Founder and Chief Content Officer of Gear Patrol. Throughout his tenure in media, Ben has written and reported on everything from consumer tech to whiskey, watches, cars, camping, and personal style. These days, he gets to write less than he’d like to.