• The five-year extension begins in 2023 with a return to the Chicago area at Olympia Fields Country Club
• BMW has been the title sponsor of the BMW Championship since 2007 and has raised more than $ 40 million on behalf of the Evans Scholars Foundation
• BMW Championship 2022 at Wilmington Country Club in Wilmington, Delaware
WOODCLIFF LAKE, NJ; PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida; and GLENVIEW, Illinois – BMW, the PGA TOUR and the Western Golf Association today announced a five-year extension for BMW as the title sponsor of the TOUR’s second FedExCup playoffs event through 2027. Also announced today was the return of the BMW Championship to the Chicago area in 2023 at Olympia Fields Country Club, which also hosted the event in 2020, with Jon Rahm defeating Dustin Johnson in a sudden death playoff.
“We would like to express our sincere thanks to BMW for continuing to support the PGA TOUR and the Western Golf Association through 2027,” said PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan. “The BMW Championship played an incredibly powerful role in launching the FedExCup in 2007 and BMW’s commitment to delivering a first class event every year further highlights the FedExCup Playoffs. We are also very grateful for BMW’s commitment to fulfilling the Evans Scholars Foundation’s mission that has influenced thousands of lives over the past 15 years. “
BMW joined the PGA TOUR family in 2007 as the title sponsor of the BMW Championship when the FedExCup was founded. Since then, the BMW Championship has been named PGA TOUR Tournament of the Year four times (2008, 2012, 2013, 2014). The 2022 event will take place August 15-21 at the Wilmington Country Club in Wilmington, Delaware.
“For the past 15 years we’ve worked with our partners, the PGA TOUR and the Western Golf Association, to bring the world’s top 70 players to one of the best and most exciting events on the golf calendar,” said Sebastian Mackensen, President and CEO of BMW North America. “Not only is the BMW Championship a great way to showcase our brand and attract customers, it’s also a wonderful opportunity to raise funds for the Evans Scholars Foundation and help so many young students achieve their dreams.”
Proceeds from the BMW Championship go to the Evans Scholars Foundation each year, which provides hard-working young caddies with full study and housing grants. Over the past 15 years, the BMW Championship has raised more than $ 40 million on behalf of the Evans Scholars Foundation and sent more than 3,000 students to college. This academic year, a record 1,070 caddies attended 21 major colleges and universities with Evans Scholarships.
“BMW has been our valued partner since 2007 and a steadfast supporter of our championships and the Evans Scholars Foundation,” said John Kaczkowski, President and CEO of the WGA. “As the title sponsor, BMW fully embraced our mission and helped us turn the Evans Scholars Foundation into a truly national program. We’re excited and grateful for the opportunity to continue working together to change the lives of youth caddies across the country. “
The more than 100,000 guests who attend the BMW Championship each year have the opportunity to experience the brand in a variety of ways, including vehicle presentations and other interactive experiences. BMW owners also enjoy the benefits of free, preferred parking space and access to an exclusive hospitality pavilion where they can relax and enjoy premium discounts and incomparable golfing experiences.
With the expansion of its role as the title sponsor of the BMW Championship, BMW is also strengthening its global involvement in golf. In addition to the BMW Championship, the car manufacturer has had a long-term partnership with the Ryder Cup via the European team since 2006. BMW also remains title sponsor for two prestigious DP World Tour events: the BMW PGA Championship in England; and the BMW International Open, which takes place every June in Germany and has been an integral part of the tour for three decades. In addition, the BMW Ladies Championship recently celebrated its debut on the LPGA Tour in Busan, South Korea. BMW has sponsored the BMW Charity Pro-Am of the Korn Ferry Tour in South Carolina since 2002.
The BMW Championship, formerly known as the Western Open, is the longest running non-major championship on the PGA TOUR and dates back to 1899. The event features one of the strongest lists of past champions in golf, including all seven players with 50 or more career wins on the PGA TOUR: Sam Snead, Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer, Byron Nelson and Billy Casper. The latest winners include world number 1 Rahm, as well as FedExCup champions Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas, Dustin Johnson and Patrick Cantlay.