Furthering their connection to the golf world – no pun intended – TAG Heuer have released a new collaborative smart watch alongside TaylorMade.
As most of us know, the watch world has had a grip on almost every conceivable sport on earth. Whether you’re tracking the world’s fastest man, the world’s fastest car, or the world’s fastest chess player, the pursuits of precision, improvement, and high-level consistency are values long shared with horology. Few sports, however, can claim as much common ground with watchmaking as golf.
Swiss brand TAG Heuer identified this overlap early and, as a result, has been producing golf-focused watches, in both form and function, for over 20 years. Since then, the brand has steadily expanded its presence in the sport, culminating in the launch of the Connected Golf Edition in 2019, which introduced digital shot tracking and performance analysis to the TAG Heuer ecosystem. Similarly, American golf equipment manufacturer TaylorMade has grown alongside the game, providing equipment to the upper echelon of its athletes. This year, the two have finally come together, with TAG Heuer unveiling a new version of its Connected E5 alongside TaylorMade.
Titanium Triumphs
The new TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E5 x TaylorMade Edition is housed in a 45mm-wide, 14.8mm-thick Grade 2 titanium case. It’s not an entirely new feature of the Connected lineup; the brand has been producing golf-focused Connected watches in black DLC titanium for quite some time.
This time, however, TAG Heuer has opted to leave the titanium uncoated, showcasing its natural brushed and sandblasted finish. Water resistance is rated to 50m, meaning the watch can survive a swim or the occasional trip into a water hazard.
It is delivered on a bi-material strap combining blue leather with a black rubber base, balancing elegance and sportiness. And if the strap becomes worn or no longer suits, TAG Heuer provides an easy strap-swapping system for added customisation.
Par For The Course
Working alongside the American golf equipment manufacturer, the Connected E5’s design has been shaped by TaylorMade’s visual identity and presence within the game. It gives the watch a more restrained, function-forward aesthetic, distinct from the stealthy black of the standard line.
Like the core models, however, the case is paired with a black polished ceramic bezel engraved with 18-hole markings that work in tandem with the golf features of the watch. The colour palette of grey, black, white, and blue tones has been chosen to mirror TaylorMade’s equipment, particularly its putters.
The digital experience receives equal attention through two exclusive watch faces. The first face, Momentum, is inspired by the fluid motion of a golf swing, featuring an animated display that continuously traces the TaylorMade logo.
The second, Topography, draws inspiration from golf course contours and incorporates indexes influenced by TaylorMade’s iconic Spider putter, alongside textures derived from golf club surfaces. Additional TAG Heuer watch faces have also been reimagined using the collaboration’s colour codes.
Driving Force
Powering the watch is the TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E5 platform, running the brand’s proprietary TAG Heuer OS. The smartwatch features a 1.39-inch AMOLED touchscreen display protected by sapphire crystal and supported by an always-on mode for visibility on the course. Dual-band GPS ensures accurate positioning and shot tracking, while connectivity includes Bluetooth 5.2 and Wi-Fi compatibility. The watch also incorporates a speaker for calls, voice assistance, and audio functions.
Battery performance further supports its versatility, offering up to two days in full-performance mode, up to three days in low-power mode, and as much as 17 hours in sport mode, including approximately 12 hours of dedicated golf use. Fast charging provides a full day of autonomy in just 30 minutes.
As you might expect from a TaylorMade collaboration, golf remains the primary focus. Automatic shot tracking, GPS course mapping, strokes gained analysis, longest drive tracking, score monitoring, round statistics, and season-long performance metrics are all included within the expansive golf app.
Beyond golf, the watch offers a full suite of health and wellness functions, including heart rate monitoring, blood oxygen measurement, sleep tracking, heart rate variability, breathing rate analysis, and multi-sport activity tracking.
Initial Thoughts
While I’m not the biggest proponent of golf myself, I do value it when watch brands have the courage to reach beyond their own industry boundaries. Of course, some take more risks than others; There’s no shortage of motorsport-themed watches, for example. But TAG Heuer has done an exceptional job of connecting watchmaking with a diverse range of worlds through its Connected collection.
Sure, golf might be the least risky of their recent collaborations. They’ve done it before alongside Malbon, while more eyebrow-raising team-ups have included New Balance and Nintendo’s Super Mario. Still, it shows TAG Heuer is not afraid of stepping outside horology’s usual expectations.
With TaylorMade at its side, the brand has created a watch that not only pays tribute to its new partner but also represents a thoughtful evolution of its golf platform. In a luxury smartwatch package, the TAG Heuer Connected E5 x TaylorMade is an absolute hole-in-one effort from both brands. Oh, and did I mention it comes with TaylorMade’s ZT Spider putter?
Reference & Specifications
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Reference | SBT8A86.EB0421 |
| Dimensions | 45mm case diameter x 14.8mm thickness |
| Case | Grade 2 titanium with black ceramic bezel |
| Display | AMOLED, 1.39in, 454×454 (326dpi) |
| Crystal | Sapphire |
| Operating System | Qualcomm Snapdragon 5100, Bluetooth connection TAG Heuer OS, Android-based, compatible with iOS |
| Functions | Display customisation, heart rate monitoring, calorie/step counters, compass, accelerometer, gyroscope, barometer, blood oxygen saturation, breathing rate, heart rate variability, sleep tracking, & dual band GPS Sports: Running, Cycling, Swimming, Fitness, Hiking, Golf and Wellness Utility: Stopwatch, timer, alarm, calls, contacts, agenda, weather |
| Battery Life | 2 days (Standard) / 3 days (Low Power) / 17h (Sport Mode) |
| Charging Time | 100% in 90min at temperatures between 15° and 45°C |
| Water Resistance | 50m / 5bar |
| Strap/Bracelet | Interchangeable black & blue rubber/leather strap with titanium deployant clasp |