BMW Championship kicks off at Wilmington Country Club
WILMINGTON, Del. – The 2022 BMW Championship at Wilmington Country Club in Wilmington, Delaware, gets underway this week in historic fashion, as it marks the PGA TOUR’s first-ever event in the state. Defending BMW Championship winner Patrick Cantlay enters the tournament looking to become the first repeat champion since BMW became title partner in 2007. The BMW Championship is the penultimate event of the PGA TOUR’s FedExCup Playoffs and has been named the PGA TOUR’s “Tournament of the Year” four times. Play gets underway on Thursday, August 18, through Sunday, August 21.
This year, the event will also serve as a showcase for BMW’s growing lineup of fully electric vehicles including the BMW iX Sports Activity Vehicle, the BMW i4 Gran Coupe, and the recently unveiled BMW i7 sedan, which will come to market later this year. Various vehicle displays and large letters spelling out “The Ultimate Electric Driving Machine” will be featured throughout the course.
This week’s 70-player field is expected to include some of the most decorated golfers in the world, including past BMW Championship winners Cantlay, Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas, as well as major championship winners, Jordan Spieth, Matthew Fitzpatrick, and Collin Morikawa.
Gardner Heidrick Pro-Am
The week’s events begin tomorrow with the annual BMW Championship Gardner Heidrick Pro-Am which will feature a star-studded field including two-time NBA champion and North Carolina A&T golfer J.R. Smith, former NFL All-Pro receiver and fashion icon Victor Cruz and BMW Motorsport racing driver Connor De Phillippi.
Evans Scholars Foundation
As always, all proceeds from the 2022 BMW Championship will support the Evans Scholars Foundation, which provides full tuition and housing scholarships for hardworking young caddies. Since the tournament’s inception 16 years ago, The BMW Championship has raised over $40 million for the Evans Scholars Foundation and helped send 3,300 caddies to college. For the upcoming school year, a record 1,100 Evans Scholars will attend 22 leading universities nationwide, including one caddie from Wilmington Country Club.
Hole-in-One Scholarship
Once again, BMW will contribute a four-year Evans Scholarship, a full tuition and housing grant, in the name of the first PGA TOUR player to record a hole-in-one on any hole during the 2022 BMW Championship. To date, five such Hole-In-One Scholarships have been awarded.
Additionally, PGA TOUR players will have the opportunity to win an all-new, fully electric BMW i7 sedan to take home if they record an ace on the 15th hole during competition rounds.
Focus on Sustainability
The 2022 BMW Championship marks Year One of a new initiative to better align tournament sustainability efforts with the overarching sustainability goals of the BMW Group, as event organizers are working closely with experts to deliver impactful environment solutions. The 2022 tournament will send zero waste to landfill and
establish a baseline carbon footprint to reduce and offset emissions in the years to come. Additional enhancements in Year One include providing reusable water bottles and water refill stations to volunteers and staff, working with suppliers and sponsors to track sustainability efforts and expand social commitments for the Evans Scholars Foundation through charitable efforts.
On Site Activations
Fans attending the BMW Championship at Wilmington Country Club will have a wide range of interactive activities on the grounds, in addition to the competition, including:
- BMW Owners’ Pavilion
A BMW vehicle key or virtual key in the BMW App unlocks unparalleled access and the best views that the BMW Championship has to offer. Once on-site at Wilmington Country Club, owners and a guest can access the BMW Owners’ Pavilion by pre-registering and showing their BMW key fob. There, they are invited to relax and enjoy premium concessions with views of the 15th hole, 16th tee, and 17th green. BMW Owners will have access to preferred parking and premium shuttle service for drop off next to the clubhouse.
- BMW Experience
Designed to bolster transformative efforts to make the game of golf more approachable, inclusive, and accessible, the BMW Experience will allow guests to take part in a Long Putt Challenge and Driving Range Experience.
- BMW M Preview Room
In celebration of 50 Years of M, a closed room will be situated within the BMW Experience. The audio-visual activation will take visitors inside the rich history of the series and display a look into the future with the BMW Concept XM: an electrified high-performance vehicle unlike anything fans have ever seen. Fans will also get introduced to the BMW M Hybrid V8 prototype racecar that will debut in the 2023 Rolex 24 at Daytona and will compete in the 2023 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, ahead of its entry in the FIA World Endurance Championship in 2024 and the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans.
- Evans Scholars Foundation Caddie Yard
The ESF Caddie Yard located within the BMW Experience will feature various Evans Scholars Foundation x M inspired products throughout the space. Select partners have been invited to create custom ESF inspired merchandise, with a portion of proceeds benefitting the Evans Scholars Foundation. Seamus Golf, an Oregon-based company which creates sustainable golf products, is one of the featured partners and will also create a Ball Mark Stamping station at the event.
Guests will be able to download the BMW Championship Activity Pass to check-in at a variety of activities and BMW venues at Wilmington Country Club. This enhancement will allow for streamlined registration, reduced wait times, and an onsite activity tracker. The platform can be accessed by scanning the QR code on event signage.
For updates during the 2022 BMW Championship, follow the conversation with:
- Facebook: facebook.com/BMWChampionship
- Twitter: @BMWchamps, @PGATOUR, @WGAESF
- Instagram: @BMWChamps, @PGATOUR, @BMWUSA
- Hashtags: #BMWChamps #BMWGolf #PGATOUR #FedExCup, #LiveUnderPar