The 2023 BMW Championship at Olympia Fields Country Club in Olympia Fields, Illinois, raised $5.5 million for caddie scholarships, the Western Golf Association announced.
The contribution to the Evans Scholars Foundation stands as the largest ever for a BMW Championship held in the Chicago area, reinforcing the championship’s commitment to providing educational opportunities to youth caddies. 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.
“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,” said Vince Pellegrino, WGA Senior Vice President of Tournaments. “This was a year to be remembered, made even more special by the lasting impact this championship will have on the lives of youth caddies nationwide.”
More than 120,000 spectators visited Olympia Fields Country Club on Aug. 15-20 to see the top 50 players on the PGA TOUR compete in the penultimate event of the FedExCup Playoffs. Viktor Hovland fired a course-record 61 in the final round, surging past Scottie Scheffler and Matt Fitzpatrick to claim his fifth PGA TOUR victory. Hovland went on to win the TOUR Championship and the FedExCup title.
Caddies took center stage as Evans Scholars caddied for the pros during the Gardner Heidrick Pro-Am, were introduced on the first tee on Saturday and Sunday, and headlined events throughout championship week. After his third round, Hovland met with Evans Scholar Diana Llamas, whose scholarship to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign was funded by BMW as a result of Hovland’s hole-in-one at the 2022 BMW Championship in Wilmington, Delaware.
The week also featured a special visit from Ilka Horstmeier, Member of the Board of Management at BMW AG, People and Real Estate, Labour Relations Director, who toured the Northwestern Evans Scholarship House in Evanston, Illinois, and conducted a fireside chat for current Evans Scholars.
“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 outside of our offices and factory gates. One of these commitments is our longstanding support of the Evans Scholars Foundation,” said Ilka Horstmeier, Member of the Board of Management at BMW AG, People and Real Estate, Labour Relations Director. “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 promote to create opportunities for young people to reach their full potential.”
All funds raised during the 2023 BMW Championship helped the Evans Scholars Foundation provide college scholarships to deserving youth caddies. This year, a record 1,130 caddies are enrolled as Evans Scholars at 24 leading universities nationwide.
Tournament of the Year.
In the wake of the record-setting week, the 2023 BMW Championship was named the “Tournament of the Year” at the PGA TOUR’s annual Tournament Meetings in Dec. Sharing the distinction with the 2023 WM Phoenix Open, the BMW Championship received the prestigious honor for the fifth time (2008, 2012, 2013, 2013-14, 2022-23).
“Earning tournament of the year for the fifth time is a huge honor that validates all of the hard work and energy we invest into creating extraordinary brand experiences for our customers and fans,” said Marcus Casey, Chief Marketing Officer, BMW of North America. “This year’s award is especially meaningful due to our historic event’s deep roots in the Chicago area. Many thanks to all of our partners, the volunteers, and golf lovers everywhere who help the BMW Championship come alive each year.”
The 2023 tournament embraced its location just outside Chicago, with the Olympia Fields Metra Station serving as the main tournament entrance, as spectators used the train daily for easy transport between the city and course. Concessions included various food trucks offering fare like pizza, hot dogs, and Italian beef from notable Chicago restaurants. First Tee – Greater Chicago also engaged in the event with its sponsorship of the family-friendly Game Changers Pavilion Presented by KPMG.
“We enter every year thinking about how we can ensure that the BMW Championship provides the best possible experience for the players, caddies, our corporate partners and – most importantly – golf fans,” Pellegrino said. “To have that effort recognized by the PGA TOUR is truly rewarding and humbling, both for the WGA and our title sponsor, BMW of North America, without whom none of this would be possible.”
Castle Pines Golf Club in Castle Rock, Colorado, will host the 2024 BMW Championship from Aug. 20-25. For individual tickets, visit www.bmwchampionship.com.