BMW CHAMPIONSHIP TEES OFF WITH PGA TOUR’S TOP PLAYERS AT COG HILL GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB IN LEMONT, ILLINOIS

Lemont, IL – September 10, 2009…The world’s top golfers were welcomed back today to Cog Hill Golf & Country Club for the 2009 BMW Championship, the third leg in the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup.  All proceeds from the BMW Championship, which will run through September 13, will once again benefit the Evans Scholars Foundation, which grants full college scholarships to deserving young caddies.   Last year, those proceeds totaled $3.3 million.

“For more than 25 years, BMW has been an active member of the international golf community, hosting a variety of golf tournaments around the globe,” said Jim O’Donnell, President of BMW of North America.  “We are pleased to be back at Cog Hill because this tournament is much more than just a sponsorship.  It is an opportunity to be involved in something that fits perfectly into our company’s DNA. The performance and unwavering determination that is exemplified by the pros here today is something that we are equally passionate about at BMW.”

Last year, the BMW Championship received the award of “Best in Class” from the PGA TOUR, underscoring BMW’s commitment to providing a superb tournament experience for players, fans, volunteers and event patrons alike.  With the renovations made at Dubsdread, this year’s tournament comes with much anticipation.  The field of competitors features the top 70 players in professional golf; previous BMW Championship winners include Camilo Villegas (2008) and Tiger Woods (2007.)

BMW is continuing its support of the Evans Scholars Foundation not only through its donation of the proceeds from the BMW Championship, but also through its internship program. Every summer, Evans Scholars have the opportunity to work for BMW and gain invaluable experience for their post-university careers. The program returned this summer with two new BMW Evans Scholars interns. They are:
*Justin Smith – Smith is a junior at Northwestern University currently majoring in economics, political science and marketing.  He worked with the MINI Central Region Marketing team in Schaumburg, IL on a range of projects, including dealer development, vehicle launches, marketing and radio promotions, as well as sales tracking and dealer visits. 
*Matthew Huie – Huie is a senior at Michigan State University working toward a degree in hospitality business.  He was a BMW Events Liaison with the BMW Resort Driving Tour at Wild Dunes Resort in Charleston, S.C.  In this role, he learned all facets of event management, from helping to supervise test drive programs to implementing special projects at local resort events.

Since its founding with two Northwestern University students in 1930, the Evans Scholars Foundation – administered by the Western Golf Association – has provided over 8,900 college scholarships to golf caddies. During the 2008-09 academic year, 845 caddies attended college on Evans Scholarships. The total value of those scholarships was $8.8 million.

Earlier this year, O’Donnell announced that BMW expanded its hole-in-one promotion so that any player achieving the first hole-in-one on any hole during the tournament, BMW will fund a four-year Evans Scholarship in honor of the accomplishment.  Previously, BMW had selected one hole on the course that counted toward the scholarship win.

John Kaczkowski, WGA Chief Operating Officer, expressed the Association’s appreciation for BMW’s ongoing support of the Evans Scholars Foundation.

“We are grateful for BMW’s keen interest in, and strong backing of, the Evans Scholars Program,” noted Kaczkowski.  “Now in its third year, BMW’s internship program for Evans Scholars has been very successful for BMW and the Evans Scholars Program. Through our partnership with BMW, the championship continues to be an excellent vehicle to promote the Evans Scholars Program.”

BMW has also encouraged owners of its vehicles to attend and be a part of the BMW Championship by giving away several hundred pairs of complimentary tickets. Additionally, any owner who drives his or her BMW the BMW Championship will have priority parking and owners will be granted exclusive access to the BMW Owners’ Pavilion overlooking the 14th green by simply showing his or her BMW vehicle key.