Owings Mills, MD – August 25, 2021… The 2021 BMW Championship officially began today at Caves Valley Golf Club in Owings Mills, Maryland, marking the PGA TOUR’s return to Baltimore for the first time in nearly 60 years. Defending BMW Championship winner Jon Rahm will look to become the first repeat champion since BMW became title partner in 2007. The annual BMW Championship Gardner Heidrick Pro-Am kicked off tournament week, with another star-studded field. Award-winning recording artist Macklemore headlined the participants playing alongside PGA TOUR players. Additional participants included Maryland native and the most decorated swimmer in history, Michael Phelps; Pro Football Hall of Famer and Baltimore Ravens legend Jonathan Ogden. They participated in the largest fundraising event for the Evans Scholars Foundation, which is also the charitable beneficiary of the BMW Championship. As always, all net proceeds from the 2021 BMW Championship will benefit the Evans Scholars Foundation, which provides full housing and tuition college scholarships to hardworking young caddies. Since the tournament’s inception 15 years ago, the BMW Championship has raised more than $36 million for the Evans Scholars Foundation and sent more than 3,000 caddies to college. For the coming 2021-22 academic year, a record 1,070 caddies will be attending 21 major colleges and universities on Evans Scholarships. Currently there are more than 11,500 Evans Scholarship Alumni nationwide. Additionally, as part of the BMW Championship coming to Baltimore for the first time, Evans Scholars will begin attending the University of Maryland in the fall. The Evans Scholars Foundation has also purchased a building near the College Park campus, which will serve as the future home of the Caves Valley Evans Scholars Scholarship House. Once again, BMW will also provide a full, four-year tuition and housing grant through the Evans Scholarship Foundation in the name of the first PGA TOUR player to record a hole-in-one during the 2021 BMW Championship. PGA TOUR players will also have the opportunity to earn some significant prizes by carding a hole-in-one on the 17th hole. The first player to record an ace during competition rounds will receive the all-new, fully-electric BMW iX. Additionally, in a first, BMW is inviting fans from all over the country to register to win the fully-electric BMW i4 Gran Coupe, once a player records an ace during the four rounds of the tournament at the 17th hole. Enter at electricswing.eventsbmw.com. The BMW Championship is the penultimate event of the PGA TOUR’s FedExCup Playoffs and will be contested from Thursday, August 26 through Sunday, August 29. This week’s 70-player field is expected to include some of the most accomplished golfers in the sport, such as two-time BMW Championship winner Dustin Johnson, as well as other notables including major championship winners Collin Morikawa, Jordan Spieth, Bryson DeChambeau, Louis Oosthuizen, Hideki Matsuyama, Brooks Koepka, as well as BMW Championship winners Justin Thomas and Rory McIlroy. As the BMW Championship prepares to welcome fans back to the event, please note that it is being done so in accordance with state and local guidelines surrounding COVID-19 protocols. The PGA TOUR – in accordance with recent changes to CDC mask guidelines – has reinstated a mandatory mask policy for spectators when in any fully enclosed structure at Caves Valley Golf Club. This policy applies to all spectators, regardless of vaccination status. Further updates on health and safety measures can be found at bmwchampionship.com. As always, fans attending the BMW Championship will continue to have a multitude of interactive activities on the grounds, in addition to the golf, including:
BMW Owners’ Pavilion
A BMW key unlocks the best views that the BMW Championship has to offer. Once inside the BMW Championship, Owners and a guest can access the BMW Owners’ Pavilion by simply pre-registering and showing their BMW key fob. There, they are invited to relax and enjoy premium concessions, as well as unparalleled views of the 18th hole. BMW Owners will have access to complimentary, preferred parking on a first-come, first-served basis at the BMW Owners’ Parking Lot (O-Lot) located across the street from Caves Valley Golf Club. A parking pass is required to enter the lot, and can be reserved through registration by visiting bmwchampionship.com.
Biergarten
Situated in area between the 15th and 16th holes, fans can prepare for Oktoberfest, as the Biergarten offers all a place to relax and experience the BMW Championship without missing any of the action. The space features natural shade, picnic tables, authentic German beer, and yes – pretzels. Additionally, this year’s Biergarten has a bit of local flair to it: Jimmy’s Famous Seafood and Greek on the Street will both have a food trucks parked, offering fans an authentic taste of the Charm City. For updates during the 2021 BMW Championship, follow the conversation with:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/BMWChampionship
Twitter: @BMWchamps, @PGATOUR, @WGAESF
Instagram: @BMWChamps, @PGATOUR, @BMWUSA
Hashtags: #BMWChamps #BMWGolf #PGATOUR #FedExCup, #LiveUnderPar
About the BMW ChampionshipThe BMW Championship, conducted by the Western Golf Association, dates back to 1899 when it debuted as the Western Open, making it the third-oldest tournament on the PGA TOUR schedule, behind only the British Open and U.S. Open. BMW has sponsored the tournament since 2007 when it became the penultimate event of the PGA TOUR’s FedExCup Playoffs. The BMW Championship features a field of the top 70 players in the FedExCup standings to determine the final 30 players for the FedExCup finale at the TOUR Championship in Atlanta. To learn more, visit www.bmwchampionship.com. About the Western Golf AssociationThe Western Golf Association conducts three national golf championships and sponsors the nationally acclaimed Evans Scholars Foundation. Headquartered in Golf, Illinois, the organization was founded in 1899 by 11 Chicago-area golf clubs to promote their interests in golf. In addition to the BMW Championship, the WGA conducts two prestigious amateur championships, the Western Amateur and the Western Junior. To learn more, visit www.wgaesf.org. About the Evans Scholars FoundationThe Evans Scholars Foundation, the nation’s largest scholarship program for caddies, provides full housing and tuition college scholarships to young caddies who show academic promise and financial need. Overseen by the Western Golf Association, the golf charity has helped more than 11,500 caddies graduate from college since 1930. This fall, a record 1,070 Scholars are attending 21 universities nationwide. BMW Group In AmericaBMW of North America, LLC has been present in the United States since 1975. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars NA, LLC began distributing vehicles in 2003. The BMW Group in the United States has grown to include marketing, sales, and financial service organizations for the BMW brand of motor vehicles, including motorcycles, the MINI brand, and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars; Designworks, a strategic design consultancy based in California; a technology office in Silicon Valley, and various other operations throughout the country. BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC in South Carolina is the BMW Group global center of competence for BMW X models and manufactures the X3, X4, X5, X6 and X7 Sports Activity Vehicles. The BMW Group sales organization is represented in the U.S. through networks of 350 BMW passenger car and BMW Sports Activity Vehicle centers, 143 BMW motorcycle retailers, 114 MINI passenger car dealers, and 38 Rolls-Royce Motor Car dealers. BMW (US) Holding Corp., the BMW Group’s sales headquarters for North America, is located in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey.www.bmwgroup.comFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/BMWGroupTwitter: http://twitter.com/BMWGroupYouTube: http://www.youtube.com/BMWGroupviewGoogle+: http://googleplus.bmwgroup.comJournalist note: Information about BMW Group and its products in the USA is available to journalists on-line at www.bmwusanews.com, www.miniusanews.com and www.press.bmwna.com.
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