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BMW

Viktor Hovland wins the BMW Championship 2023 with course record on Sunday.

+++ Viktor Hovland triumphs after an impressive final round at the Olympia Fields Country Club, finishing on 263 strokes (17 under par) +++ This is the second BMW title for the Norwegian +++ Six players qualify for the Ryder Cup Team USA +++ All tournament proceeds going to the Evans Scholars Foundation +++


Chicago. Viktor Hovland has emerged as the champion of the BMW Championship 2023 with an exceptional performance in the final round of the PGA TOUR event. The Norwegian golfer produced a scintillating display, with seven birdies on the back nine, culminating in a course record of 61 strokes (9 under par). This score is the lowest in the history of the Playoffs and allowed Hovland to surpass the three-round leaders, Scottie Scheffler (USA) and Matt Fitzpatrick (ENG). With his fifth PGA TOUR win, the 25-year-old golfer climbed to second place in the FedExCup rankings. This victory marks Hovland’s second BMW title, adding to his win at the BMW International Open 2021 in Munich (GER).

Ilka Horstmeier, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Human Resources and Real Estate, congratulated Viktor Hovland on his remarkable performance in the final round and his achievement as the 2023 BMW Champion. Horstmeier expressed gratitude to the Olympia Fields Country Club, partners, volunteers, and everyone involved in making the tournament a success. She also highlighted the positive impact of the BMW Championship on the lives of young people, as all proceeds from the event go to the Evans Scholars Foundation.

The BMW Championship has contributed over 45 million US dollars to the Evans Scholars Foundation since its inception in 2007, providing educational opportunities to 3,300 caddies. These numbers exclude the funds raised in the BMW Championship 2023. Currently, the Evans Scholars Foundation is supporting a record number of 1,130 caddies in their pursuit of education.

Starting the final round three shots behind Scheffler and Fitzpatrick, Hovland seemed destined for a battle between the two leaders. However, the Norwegian golfer delivered an extraordinary performance, hitting every shot with precision. Except for the two par 3 holes, Hovland birdied every hole on the challenging back nine of the North Course, leaving Scheffler and Fitzpatrick unable to match his brilliance.

Reflecting on his victory, Hovland described winning the BMW Championship at a prestigious venue like Olympia Fields against the world’s top players as an incredible feeling. He considered it his best round ever, particularly given the circumstances of the playoff event and the difficulty of the golf course.

Scheffler and Fitzpatrick both finished tied for second place at -15, with Rory McIlroy in third place at -12. Open champion Brian Harman and Max Homa shared fifth place at -11.

Scheffler’s second-place finish allowed him to maintain his lead in the FedExCup standings and secure a spot in the Playoff final, the TOUR Championship, which will be held next week at the East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta. The BMW Group will serve as the Official Vehicle Partner for the event. Hovland moved up to second place in the standings, with McIlroy in third place. Fitzpatrick’s strong performance elevated him from 40th position to tenth.

The BMW Championship is the second-to-last Playoff tournament, and only 30 out of the 50 players who started the event in Chicago qualify for the season final. The remaining three spots were secured by Tyrrell Hatton (ENG, +1, T34), Jordan Spieth (USA, +1, T34), and Sepp Straka (AUT, +2, T37). Sahith Theegala (USA, -6, T15) narrowly missed out on qualification, finishing in 31st place despite a strong tournament performance.

The BMW Championship also played a significant role in determining the American Ryder Cup team. This was the last opportunity for players to earn points and qualify for the team, which will be captained by Zach Johnson (USA). Scottie Scheffler, Wyndham Clark, Patrick Cantlay, Brian Harman, Max Homa, and Xander Schauffele have all secured their places in the team. The final six spots will be decided by Captain’s Pick on August 29th. The Ryder Cup will take place in Rome (ITA) from September 25th to October 1st, 2023, with BMW supporting the legendary team competition as Worldwide Partner.

Looking ahead, the BMW Championship will make its debut at the Castle Pines Golf Club in Denver next year. In 2025, the tournament will return to the Caves Valley Golf Club in Baltimore, following its successful visit in 2021. The 2026 schedule features the Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis as the host for the first time since 2008. Finally, in 2027, the BMW Championship will celebrate its first tournament at the Liberty National Golf Club in the New York region.

BMW

BMW Championship kicks off with Gardner Heidrick Pro-Am

US sports stars will open the BMW Championship at Olympia Fields Country Club in Chicago, USA. The Gardner Heidrick Pro-Am event will be held in support of the Evans Scholars Foundation. The PGA TOUR playoff tournament will feature 50 world-class golfers. A Hole-in-One Award will be given to the player and their caddie – an all-electric BMW i5.

The BMW Championship is the second-to-last playoff event in the FedExCup. Only the top 50 pros from the PGA TOUR season are eligible to participate. This year’s field of players, who will compete at Olympia Fields Country Club in Chicago, promises to be of the highest quality. Patrick Cantlay, the two-time defending champion, will aim to become the first-ever three-time winner of the event since BMW became the title partner in 2007.

With almost all of the top 20 players in the world rankings participating, Cantlay faces a tough task of defending his title. Other notable players to watch out for include Jon Rahm, the current FedExCup leader, reigning Masters champion, and winner of last year’s BMW Championship at Olympia Fields. The world’s number one player, Scottie Scheffler, as well as Rory McIlroy, Wyndham Clark, and Brian Harman, are also among the top pros competing.

The tournament week began with the traditional Gardner Heidrick Pro-Am on Wednesday. Prominent US sports figures, including CC Sabathia, Victor Cruz, and Conner De Phillippi, participated as amateurs alongside professional golfers.

The Gardner Heidrick Pro-Am serves as the largest annual fundraiser for the Evans Scholars Foundation (ESF). All proceeds from this year’s BMW Championship will benefit the ESF, which provides college scholarships to deserving caddies across the country. Since 2007, the BMW Championship has raised over $45 million in support of the ESF, helping thousands of students achieve their college dreams.

BMW will also contribute a four-year Evans Scholarship in the name of the first PGA TOUR player to achieve a hole-in-one during the tournament. This scholarship covers full college tuition and housing. BMW has already awarded six Hole-In-One Scholarships, with Viktor Hovland being the most recent recipient in the 2022 tournament.

If a professional golfer manages to get a hole-in-one on the 16th hole, both the player and their caddie will receive two all-new, fully electric BMW i5 Sedans as a reward. Since all proceeds from the BMW Championship go to the Evans Scholars Foundation, it is fitting that the caddie also gets a new car when the player wins one.

In addition to the intense competition for one of the most prestigious titles on the PGA TOUR and a total prize fund of $20 million, the BMW Championship also plays a role in the team selection for the Ryder Cup. This is the last chance for American players to earn points and secure a spot on the team captained by Zach Johnson. The top six players in the rankings have already secured their places in the defending champions’ squad. Johnson will use his Captain’s Picks to select six more players. The team will face the European selection in Rome, Italy from September 25th to October 1st, 2023. BMW will be a Worldwide Partner of this legendary team competition.