Aronimink Golf Club will host the 2018 BMW Championship.

Aronimink Golf Club to host 2018 BMW Championship

  The 2018 BMW Championship will be held at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pa., tournament officials announced today.

  The BMW Championship is the penultimate event in the PGA TOUR FedExCup Playoffs and boasts a field of the TOUR’s top 70 players vying to earn one of 30 spots in the season-ending TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola and the opportunity for the chance to be crowned FedExCup champion. Conducted by the Western Golf Association, the BMW Championship has received ‘Tournament of the Year’ honors from the PGA TOUR in 2008, 2012, 2013 and 2014.

  “We are delighted to add Aronimink to the list of prominent clubs that have hosted the BMW Championship,” said Vince Pellegrino, WGA Senior Vice President of Tournaments. “Aronimink has served as a worthy and historic venue for many of golf’s finest championships, and we’re looking forward to adding to that tradition by bringing the PGA TOUR’s best to the Philadelphia area in 2018.”

  Since its founding in 1896, Aronimink has hosted the PGA Championship, the Senior PGA Championship and the U.S. Amateur.

  Aronimink’s Donald Ross-designed course is consistently rated one of the finest and most challenging in the United States.

  “We look forward to bringing a major world-class event to Aronimink,” said Steven Zodtner, president of Aronimink. "Our membership and the Philadelphia golf community are excited to partner with the WGA, BMW of North America and the PGA TOUR to showcase our championship golf course and to return professional golf to our region.”

  The 2018 BMW Championship will mark the first time since 1959 that the event, formerly known as the Western Open, has been contested in the state of Pennsylvania. That tournament, held at Pittsburgh Field Club, was won by Mike Souchak.

  “We are thrilled for the BMW Championship to come to the East Coast, helping our partners at the Western Golf Association broaden the awareness and support for the Evans Scholars Foundation as they seek to send 1,000 caddies to college by 2020,” said Trudy Hardy, Vice President of Marketing, BMW of North America. “Our goal is to provide the ultimate premium experience to Philadelphia area golf fans, our BMW owners and dealers and we are excited to bring the 2018 BMW Championship to Aronimink Golf Club.”

  Since 2007, the BMW Championship has raised more than $19.6 million for its sole charity, the Evans Scholars Foundation.

  Supported by the Western Golf Association, the Evans Scholars Foundation awards full tuition and housing scholarships to caddies of modest means. There are currently 870 Evans Scholars enrolled at 18 universities across the country, including eight from Pennsylvania.

  “The BMW Championship has had wonderful success with its rotation to date and Aronimink Golf Club will continue the trend in 2018,” said PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem. “Philadelphia is one of America’s great sports cities, and thanks to the great community support we anticipate the tournament receiving, the BMW Championship will continue to be able to raise significant funds for the Evans Scholars Foundation.”

About Aronimink Golf Club
  Founded in 1896 in Newtown Square, Pa., Aronimink Golf Club is regularly rated among the top golf courses in the United States. The club’s par 70 course was designed by renowned golf course architect Donald Ross and plays 7,190 yards from the championship tees.

  Aronimink has hosted the following championships:

• 1962 PGA Championship
• 1977 U.S. Amateur
• 2003 Senior PGA Championship
• 2010 AT&T National
• 2011 AT&T National

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 third of four Playoff events with the introduction of the PGA TOUR’s FedExCup Playoffs. Once it became the penultimate Playoff event, the tournament converted from a full field event to a field of 70 players to determine the final 30 players for the FedExCup finale at the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola in Atlanta. All net proceeds from the BMW Championship benefit the Evans Scholars Foundation, which grants full college scholarships to deserving young caddies. Since BMW became title sponsor, the tournament has contributed more than $19.6 million to the Evans Scholars Foundation.
  For more information about the BMW Championship, visit www.BMWChampionship.com.

About Western Golf Association/Evans Scholars Foundation
  The Western Golf Association conducts four national golf championships and sponsors the nationally acclaimed Evans Scholars Foundation. Headquartered in Golf, Illinois, the organization was founded in 1899 by 11 Chicago-area golf clubs to promote their interests in golf.
  The WGA conducts two prestigious amateur championships, the Western Amateur and the Western Junior, as well as the BMW Championship, the third of four PGA TOUR FedExCup Playoff events. In 2013, the WGA added a fourth tournament, the Hotel Fitness Championship, one of four newly-created Web.com Tour Finals events.
  The WGA also champions education through golf in sponsoring the Evans Scholars Foundation. Established by famed amateur golfer Charles “Chick” Evans Jr., the program provides full housing and tuition scholarships to deserving caddies across the country. Currently, 870 caddies are attending college on scholarship; there are more than 9,900 Evans Alumni across the country. Most Scholars attend one of the 14 universities where the Foundation owns and operates a Scholarship House.

About PGA TOUR
  The PGA TOUR is the world’s premier membership organization for touring professional golfers, co-sanctioning more than 130 tournaments on the PGA TOUR, Champions Tour, Web.com Tour, PGA TOUR Latinoamérica, PGA TOUR Canada and PGA TOUR China.
  The PGA TOUR’s mission is to entertain and inspire its fans, deliver substantial value to its partners, create outlets for volunteers to give back, generate significant charitable and economic impact in the communities in which it plays, and provide financial opportunities for TOUR players.
  Worldwide, PGA TOUR tournaments are broadcast to more than 1 billion households in 225 countries and territories in 32 languages. Virtually all tournaments are organized as non-profit organizations in order to maximize charitable giving. In 2013, tournaments across all Tours generated more than $134 million for local and national charitable organizations and in early 2014 the TOUR’s all-time charitable contributions surpassed $2 billion.
  The PGA TOUR's web site is PGATOUR.COM, the No. 1 site in golf, and the organization is headquartered in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.