BMW Championships a Boon For Carmel
The PGA Tour’s BMW Championships is underway at Crooked Stick Golf Club and an event organizer says it’s likely to return to the Carmel course in the future. Western Golf Association Senior Vice President of Tournaments Vince Pellegrino says community and corporate support as well as ticket sales have been great. Crooked Stick last hosted the BMW Championships in 2012 and its economic impact is estimated to be $30 million. Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard tells Inside INdiana Business the event shines the national spotlight on Carmel.
During an interview last weekend on Inside INdiana Business Television, Pellegrino said a lot of work has gone into the course, particularly on the 17th hole, since Rory McIlroy took the trophy four years ago. He told Sports Contributor Bill Benner "they’ve really invested a lot of money into their golf course to make it better for the best players in the world, adding some new bunkers, some new tees, certainly the irrigation, the drainage on the golf course. Some of the things you don’t see, but some of the things that really help with the Championship. Cart path infrastructure to get people in and around the golf course helps, as well."
The event’s total purse is $8.5 million. Organizers are aiming to raise $2.5 million for the Evans Scholars Foundation, which helps send caddies to college.
Pre-tournament events have been running this week and the first of 70 of the world’s best golfers teed off late this morning. The final round is set for Sunday. The BMW Championships is the third leg of the PGA Tour FedEx Cup Playoffs. It will be televised nationally on the Golf Channel and NBC.