+++ Largest ever contribution at a BMW Championship in the Chicago
area +++ $50 million raised by the playoff tournament since 2007 +++
BMW Championship named “PGA TOUR Tournament of the Year” for the fifth
time in 2023 +++
Munich/Glenview. The 2023 BMW Championship raised a
record total for the Evans Scholars Foundation of tournament organiser
Western Golf Association. The prestigious golf tournament held at
Olympia Fields Country Club in August of this year raised $5.5 million
to fund full college scholarships for deserving caddies – the largest
ever amount raised for a BMW Championship held in the Chicago area.
The BMW Championship has now contributed $50 million to the Foundation
since 2007, helping award full tuition and housing college
scholarships to more than 3,300 caddies during that time.
“The BMW Group is much more than an automobile manufacturer. With
about 150,000 employees from 110 nations worldwide, we are an integral
part of global society, and as such we are also involved away from our
offices and factory gates. One of these commitments is our
long-standing support of the Evans Scholars Foundation,” said Ilka
Horstmeier, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Human
Resources and Real Estate.
This year alone, a record 1,130 caddies are enrolled as Evans
Scholars at 24 leading US universities nationwide. “We are very proud
to be able to contribute to a successful future for so many young
students through the BMW Championship. These are exactly the kind of
initiatives that we as a company promote to create opportunities for
young people to reach their full potential,” said Horstmeier, who,
during the 2023 BMW Championship, visited the Evans Scholarship House
at Northwestern University in Chicago and spoke to Evans Scholars.
Viktor Hovland (NOR) won the 2023 BMW Championship with a sensational
final round, firing a course-record 61, in front of around 120,000
passionate spectators during the course of the tournament week. All of
them also supported the Evans Scholars Foundation – all proceeds from
the tournament are donated to the foundation.
“Everyone who came out to watch these incredible players compete
played a direct role in helping hard-working young people get to
college,” said Vince Pellegrino, WGA Senior Vice President of
Tournaments. “We can’t say enough about the passion of the
Chicago-area golf fans, as well as the unwavering support of our
partners at BMW, Olympia Fields Country Club and the PGA TOUR.”
The BMW Championship was not only a resounding success for the Evans
Scholars Foundation. The penultimate playoff event was, along with the
WM Phoenix Open, named “PGA TOUR Tournament of the Year”. This is the
fifth time after 2008, 2012, 2013 and 2014 that the BMW Championship
has received this award from the most important golf tour in the
world. In particular, the PGA TOUR acknowledged the premium experience
for fans and players, as well as the commitment of title partner BMW,
the tournament organisers, and the volunteers.
The 2023 BMW Championship also earned the award in the “Best On-Site
Staging” category for the fourth time – a record. This award
recognises the best overall on-site presentation, which includes the
setup for many constituents such as players, caddies, media,
competitions and rules, volunteers, tournament operations, security,
first aid, and the structural build out.
Next year the BMW Championship will be held at Castle Pines Golf Club
near Denver for the first time, from 20th to 25th August 2024.
