2009 BMW CHAMPIONSHIP CONCLUDES WITH INCREASED TICKET SALES AND DOMINATING VICTORY BY TIGER WOODS AT COG HILL GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB IN LEMONT, ILLINOIS

Lemont, IL – September 16, 2009… The 2009 BMW Championship, which concluded on Sunday, September 13 with a thrilling victory by Tiger Woods, today announced that the tournament experienced a 10.7% increase in ticket sales from 2007 – the last time the event was held at Cog Hill Golf & Country Club.  BMW will once again donate all proceeds from the BMW Championship to the Evans Scholars Foundation, which grants full college scholarships to deserving young caddies.  In its first two years, the Championship raised more than $6 million for the Foundation, and while the final figures are still being calculated for 2009, BMW anticipates making another significant donation.

“For us, the BMW Championship is more than just a world-class sporting event.  It is also an opportunity to give back through the Evans Scholars Foundation.  We’re proud to support a program that impacts the lives of young people, who embody hard work, ambition and high ethical standards – traits that we respect and applaud at BMW,” said Jim O’Donnell, President of BMW of North America. 

Tournament officials estimate that this year’s BMW Championship, the third leg in the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup, welcomed more than 155,000 golf patrons.  In 2007, the event attracted 140,000 fans.  This increase underscores BMW’s commitment to delivering a superior tournament experience for its patrons, as well as the city of Chicago’s remarkable support of the game of golf.  The 2009 BMW Championship also came with increased anticipation with the renovations made at Cog Hill’s Dubsdread by renowned course architect Rees Jones.  The field of competitors featured the top 70 players in professional golf, including previous BMW Championship winners Camilo Villegas (2008) and Tiger Woods (2007.) 

This year’s winner, Tiger Woods, dominated the tournament, pulling away from the field on the third day of play, during which he carded a course-record of 62.  In the end, Woods posted an eight-shot victory over Jim Furyk and Marc Leishman.  The victory was Woods’ sixth of the year, and propelled him back to the top of the FedExCup standings, after he briefly relinquished the place to Steve Stricker at the Deutsche Bank Championship the week prior.

“It was great to be back in Chicago this year, and to put on another terrific tournament,” said John Kaczkowski, WGA Chief Operating Officer.  “On behalf of the WGA, we enthusiastically thank BMW for their strong support of the Evans Scholars Foundation.  Not only does BMW make a substantial donation to the program, but they also find additional, unique ways to get involved, such as through their summer internship program for Evans Scholars.  It is refreshing to have a partner who puts such a high premium on giving back.”

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.

The 2010 BMW Championship will be held again in Lemont, Illinois at the Cog Hill Golf & Country Club.