The Western Golf Association announced on December 17, 2024, that the 2024 BMW Championship at Castle Pines Golf Club in Castle Rock, Colorado, raised $10.2 million for caddie scholarships. The record-setting contribution to the Evans Scholars Foundation is the largest ever for the BMW Championship, reinforcing the tournament’s commitment to providing educational opportunities to youth caddies. The BMW Championship has contributed over $60 million to the Foundation since 2007, helping award full tuition and housing college scholarships to more than 3,600 caddies.
“So many moments from this year will stay with us, but what really stands out is how the golf fans of Colorado joined with our partners at BMW, Castle Pines Golf Club and the PGA TOUR to make such a tremendous difference for youth caddies,” said Vince Pellegrino, WGA Senior Vice President of Tournaments. “This contribution means hundreds of deserving young men and women will have an opportunity to change their lives for the better.”
More than 138,000 spectators visited Castle Pines Golf Club on August 20-25 for the penultimate event of the FedExCup Playoffs as the PGA TOUR returned to Colorado for the first time in a decade. Keegan Bradley finished 12-under par to beat Ludvig Åberg, Adam Scott, and Sam Burns by a single shot and claim his second BMW Championship.
The 2025 Ryder Cup captain’s seventh PGA TOUR victory completed a week that celebrated the important role of caddies. Evans Scholars caddied for the pros during practice rounds and the Gardner Heidrick Pro-Am and headlined events throughout the tournament. Colorado philanthropists George and Geoff “Duffy” Solich — brothers and Evans Scholars Alumni who played key roles in hosting the event — were inducted into the Caddie Hall of Fame during a special ceremony before the tournament.
The week also featured a special visit from BMW Executive Ilka Horstmeier, who toured the University of Colorado Evans Scholarship House in Boulder and participated in a fireside chat with Evans Scholars moderated by golf media personality Alexandra O’Laughlin.
“The BMW Group is proud of our longstanding partnership with the Western Golf Association, and of the great impact the BMW Championship makes in the lives of so many scholars,” said Horstmeier, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, People and Places. “As a forward-thinking corporation, opportunities for young people are matters particularly close to our heart. Education is the key to a self-determined life and an important pillar for the cohesion of our society. We are proud to support the Evans Scholars Foundation and their fantastic efforts in driving change.”
All funds raised during the 2024 BMW Championship will support full tuition and housing college scholarships for caddies through the Foundation, which was named the National Scholarship Providers Association’s Scholarship Provider of the Year in October. This year, a record 1,190 caddies are enrolled as Evans Scholars at 24 leading universities nationwide.
Tournament of the Year
In the wake of a record-setting return to Colorado, the PGA TOUR named the 2024 BMW Championship the “Tournament of the Year” at its annual Tournament Meetings on December 11. In winning the coveted award for the second consecutive year, the BMW Championship became the first event to be named Tournament of the Year six times (2008, 2012, 2013, 2013-14, 2022-23, 2024).
“It’s an honor to be recognized in this way — and for the sixth time, no less — because each year we truly give the BMW Championship everything we’ve got,” said Marcus Casey, Chief Marketing Officer, BMW of North America. “Tournament week is an invaluable opportunity to showcase our brand on an international stage while engaging with fans in a meaningful way. Thank you to the PGA TOUR for this honor, and to the BMW team, our partners, the volunteers, and fans who bring the BMW Championship to life each year. This extraordinary event would not be possible without your commitment, dedication, and passion.”
The BMW Championship delivered the “Ultimate Fan Experience” in 2024, focusing on spectator entry, access, and transportation across the unique terrain of Castle Pines to provide a seamless fan experience and the best vantage points to watch the TOUR’s top players up close. Concessions brought a local flavor, with staples from beloved Denver-area institutions and Castle Pines’ famed milkshakes. A week-long celebration of America’s armed forces included an opening ceremony with a flyover by four F-16 fighter jets from the Colorado Air National Guard.
“We set high expectations for our return to Colorado, and I think we delivered the best possible experience for the players, caddies, corporate partners and — most importantly — our incredible fans,” Pellegrino said. “This is a tremendous honor and a testament to everyone who worked so hard to make this tournament happen, especially our title sponsor BMW of North America.”
The 2024 BMW Championship was also honored with the award for “Best Tournament Sales” as the event’s return to Colorado generated unprecedented enthusiasm.
“I am honored that this year’s BMW Championship was voted as Tournament of the Year and Best Tournament Sales,” said Duffy Solich, the General Chairman of the 2024 BMW Championship. “These awards truly belong to a larger team and are reflective of all the work that went into putting on a first-class PGA TOUR event. We are thrilled we set a record in raising over $10 million in charitable contributions to send more young people to college on an Evans Scholarship. It is my honor to congratulate our entire membership who supported this event in every way, all our 70-plus member committees, our great staff at Castle Pines Golf Club, our wonderful community and its leaders and of course our incredible partners the WGA, BMW, and the PGA TOUR. The WGA are clearly the best at what they do in running a golf tournament.”
Castle Pines Golf Club Chairman and President George Solich said, “Delivering The Best Day of Golf in America is the standard we set and uphold at Castle Pines Golf Club. This prestigious recognition is a testament to the unforgettable experience we created together by showcasing the beauty and quality of the golf course and Club, the spirit of competition, and the camaraderie and support of our incredible membership and greater community.”
Caves Valley Golf Club in Owings Mills, Maryland, will host the 2025 BMW Championship from August 12-17.
About the BMW Championship
The BMW Championship 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 50 players in the FedExCup standings to determine the final 30 players for the FedExCup final at the TOUR Championship in Atlanta. Since 2007, the BMW Championship has contributed more than $50 million to the Evans Scholars Foundation, the event’s charitable beneficiary. To learn more, visit www.bmwchampionship.com.
About the Western Golf Association
The Western Golf Association conducts six national golf championships and sponsors the nationally acclaimed Evans Scholars Foundation. Headquartered in Glenview, 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 on the PGA TOUR and the NV5 Invitational presented by Old National Bank on the Korn Ferry Tour, the WGA conducts four prestigious amateur championships: the Western Amateur, the Western Junior, and the Women’s Western Golf Association’s Amateur and Junior championships.
About the Evans Scholars Foundation
Established by the WGA and famed amateur golfer Charles Chick Evans Jr., the Evans Scholars Foundation provides full housing and tuition scholarships to high-achieving caddies nationwide. A record 1,190 caddies are enrolled in 24 universities as Evans Scholars. The Program, which the WGA supports, is funded by contributions from more than 38,500 Par Club members, including Evans Scholars Alumni, and proceeds from the BMW Championship. Since the Program’s inception in 1930, more than 12,040 caddies nationwide have graduated as Evans Scholars. To learn more, visit www.wgaesf.org.
Read the full press release here.
