BMW Championship 2009: Donald opens “Best-in-class” tournament. , Rees Jones’ “new” Dubsdread course also recognised with award.

Lemont/USA. “Gentlemen, start your engines!” Top pro Luke Donald could hardly have chosen more appropriate words for a BMW tournament when he symbolically inaugurated the “Dubsdread” course at the Cog Hill Golf & Country Club, subject of a one-year modification project by renowned golf course architect Rees Jones, and opened the BMW Championship (10th to 13th September). Armed with a black and white chequered flag, the Englishman gave head greenkeeper Ken Lapp and his 80-strong team the starting signal. The greenkeepers swarmed onto the golf course on their motorised equipment to put the final touches to the course.

The 6,691 metre par-71 course now demands even greater accuracy from the pros, and was included in the list of the top 100 US golf courses for the first time in the October issue of US GOLF magazine - an excellent accolade for a municipal golf course.

The pre-tournament conditions could, therefore, not be better when the top 70 pros in the FedExCup rankings do battle for the seven million dollars prize money and 30 starting places at the season finale, the Tour Championship in Atlanta. This is not only down to the “new” Dubsdread course: BMW will once again ensure that the event lives up to the high expectations placed on a BMW tournament. Last year the PGA TOUR honoured the BMW Championship with its “Best in Class” award. This recognises the commitment of BMW, players, spectators and volunteers to producing a special tournament experience.

The many modifications to the “Dubsdread” Championship Course mean there is a special excitement going into this year’s BMW Championship. The new design of the course will see the golfing elite dealing with 18 new greens, altered and repositioned bunkers, and longer holes. Despite the many new challenges posed by the new layout, Jones has still managed to preserve the character of Dick Wilson and Joe Lee’s original design.

Jones had already completely overhauled the Championship Course at the venue for last year’s BMW Championship, the Bellerive Country Club near St. Louis. Jones is a proven specialist for tasks such as these. He has worked on numerous courses for Major tournaments in the past, earning himself the nickname “The Open Doctor”. He has so far designed the golf courses for seven U.S. Open, six PGA Championship and three Ryder Cup venues.