• by Tanya Gazdik , November 26, 2021

BMW, in partnership with the PGA TOUR and Western Golf Association, has entered into a five-year agreement to remain the title sponsor of the BMW Championship through 2027.  

The agreement will begin in 2023 when the event returns to the Chicago area. It will continue as the penultimate event in the PGA TOUR’s FedExCup Playoffs, featuring 70 of the world’s best players competing for the right to qualify for the season-ending TOUR Championship. 

BMW became title sponsor in 2007, the inaugural season of the FedExCup Playoffs, and has since been named the PGA TOUR’s tournament of the year four times (2008, 2012, 2013 and 2014).

Each year, the more than 100,000 guests who attend the BMW Championship have the opportunity to engage and interact with the brand in numerous ways including vehicle displays and other interactive experiences, according to the automaker.

BMW owners receive complimentary, preferred parking, and have access to an exclusive hospitality pavilion.

Besides showcasing the brand and engaging customers, the sponsorship gives the automaker an avenue for some philanthropic work, namely raising funds for the Evans Scholars Foundation, says Sebastian Mackensen, president and CEO, BMW of North America. 

Proceeds from the BMW Championship benefit the Evans Scholars Foundation, which provides full tuition and housing scholarships for young caddies. 

Over the past 15 years, the BMW Championship has raised more than $40 million on behalf of the Evans Scholars Foundation and has helped send more than 3,000 students to college. This academic year, a record 1,070 caddies are attending 21 major colleges and universities on Evans Scholarships.

BMW has helped transform the Evans Scholars Foundation into “a truly national program,” says John Kaczkowski, WGA president and CEO.

In addition to the BMW Championship, the automaker has had a longstanding partnership with the Ryder Cup, through the European team, dating back to 2006. This year, the company began a two-event run as a Worldwide Partner for the Ryder Cup.

BMW also remains the title sponsor for two prestigious European Tour events: the BMW PGA Championship in England; and the BMW International Open, contested each June in Germany.

Additionally, the BMW Ladies Championship in Busan, South Korea, made its debut on the LPGA Tour in 2019.  Other BMW golf events include the BMW Charity Pro-Am in South Carolina.