BMW Golfsport: The European Tour and BMW extend partnership to 2014

The European Tour and BMW are de lighted to announce a four year extension to their partnership for the BMW PGA Championship, The European Tour’s flagship event at Wentworth Club, through to 2014.



The first PGA Championship under the BMW banner was held in 2005, and it has upheld its reputation as one of the highlights of the International Schedule, featuring world class fields and thrilling battles over the iconic West Course which has been extensively remodelled over the past 12 months.



The German car manufacturer has forged exceptionally strong links with The European Tour and is the title sponsor of two other events this season: the BMW Italian Open and the BMW International Open in Germany. In addition BMW is the Official Car partner of The European Tour, The 2010 Ryder Cup and 11 European Tour events.



Last month, it was also announced that The European Tour’s partnership with BMW in Germany for the BMW International Open has also been extended through to 2014, when the tournament will celebrate its 25th anniversary.



George O’Grady, The European Tour’s Chief Executive, said: “BMW are our strongest and most committed commercial partner with the events they support here in Europe and around the world. The foundations were laid in 1989 with the first BMW International Open and strengthened in 2005 with the first BMW PGA Championship, and we are delighted to announce the extension of our partnership to 2014. BMW is a byword for how things should be done. They look after their customers and clients and, in our case, they look after golf and what golf stands for. We are fortunate to have BMW as a partner.”



Ralf Hussmann, BMW Sports Marketing & Brand Cooperation, said: “We are in the game for the long term and are delighted to agree another four year extension to our partnership, and firmly believe that with the help of our partners at The European Tour and Wentworth Club the BMW PGA Championship will continue to grow in stature and consolidate its reputation as one of the finest events in world golf.


“BMW has been involved in golf for more than 20 years and we continue to see it as an emotional platform through which to market our products and communicate with our key customers, both in Europe and further afield.


“Wentworth Club is symbolic of great tradition and countless important competitions, and it is great to see how the Club has developed further to stay ahead – a perfect match to BMW’s philosophy of doing business.


“We look forward to playing a major role in its continued development through to 2014.”



On Sunday, the 2010 edition of the BMW PGA Championship was won by Simon Khan, after a brilliant finishing round of 66 strokes. It was the biggest final-day comeback in the history of the event as the Englishman had been seven shots off the lead going into the last 18 holes. Khan, ranked number 471 in the world before the event, had not won on The European Tour for six years and was included in the Championship field just a few days ago. He holed a 20 foot birdie putt on the last to distance Luke Donald and Fredrik Andersson Hed by a shot. “It just means everything, today, this week”, he said. “This tournament is the reason I started playing golf, and just to be here was unbelievable. With the new setup, as well, it makes it a new premium on sort of your accuracy and that’s sort of my strength when it’s on.”



Angel Cabrera won in 2005, the first year BMW partnered the event, and since then David Howell, Anders Hansen, Miguel Angel Jiménez and Paul Casey have all triumphed. They followed in the footsteps of an impressive roll call of past champions including Peter Alliss, Seve Ballesteros, Sir Nick Faldo, Tony Jacklin, Bernhard Langer, Colin Montgomerie, José Maria Olazabal and Ian Woosnam.



There have been 38 BMW events on The European Tour International Schedule, including this year’s BMW PGA Championship – 21 BMW International Opens, seven BMW Asian Opens, six BMW PGA Championships, two BMW Russian Opens and two BMW Italian Opens.



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