WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J. – BMW announced a two-year extension of its partnership with the PGA TOUR and the Western Golf Association (WGA).

The original partnership agreement of six years was forged in 2007 with the creation of the BMW Championship – the third leg in the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup.

That tournament will now run through 2014 under the new agreement. All proceeds of the BMW Championship benefit the Evans Scholars Foundation, which grants full college scholarships to deserving young caddies. This year, those proceeds totaled $1.6 million.

“We are delighted to extend our partnership with the PGA TOUR and Western Golf Association,” said Jim O’Donnell, President of BMW of North America. “The BMW Championship affords us an opportunity to connect with our owners and golf fans around the U.S., as well to give back to the community through the Evans Scholars Foundation.”
“BMW has been an exceptional partner of the PGA TOUR and the Western Golf Association, embracing its role as title sponsor of the BMW Championship and helping to elevate the stature and impact of the tournament,” said PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem. “We couldn’t be more delighted that our partnership with BMW now extends through 2014.”

“We’re very pleased with the extension of our partnership agreement with BMW and the PGA TOUR, and we’re exceptionally grateful for BMW’s continued and enthusiastic support of the Evans Scholars Foundation,” noted WGA Chairman John N. Fix.

Since its founding with two Northwestern University students in 1930, the Evans Scholars Foundation – administered by the WGA – has provided over 9,800 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 2009 BMW Championship was played at Cog Hill Golf & Country Club in Lemont, Ill. and will again return to Cog Hill in 2010.