WITH a worldwide legacy, BMW’s dedication to golf is much from a advertising and marketing gimmick – it’s a long-standing, strategic partnership that has been in movement for many years.
The BMW Worldwide Open in Germany has featured on the European Tour schedule since 1989, the BMW PGA Championship, performed at Wentworth within the UK for over 40 years, final month with a star-studded area and received by Swede Alex Noren, additionally having fun with an extended affiliation with BMW courting again to 2005.
Add to that the BMW Championship on the PGA TOUR, formally the Western Open, one of many longest operating occasions in skilled golf within the US, and a match which is now part of the FedEx Cup playoff collection. Contested from 2007 onwards with BMW as the key associate, the FedEx Cup playoff occasion is one other instance of the status car model carving out a deep-rooted legacy in elite golf.
Younger gun Elvis Smylie will return to the scene of his breakthrough win in 2024 when he contests the BMW Australian PGA Championship in late November.
Whereas in 2022, that very same legacy started taking maintain in Australia, BMW turning into the primary firm to associate with all three nationwide governing our bodies – Golf Australia, PGA of Australia and WPGA Tour of Australasia – all below the banner of Australian Golf.
And this yr’s summer time of golf will once more be highlighted by a 3rd yr of BMW’s naming rights partnership with the PGA of Australia and their flagship occasion, the BMW Australian PGA Championship, a match which tees off on November 27 and is once more set to be a characteristic of the Australian sporting summer time.
Elvis Smylie, a BMW ambassador, returns to the scene of his breakthrough win at Royal Queensland in 2024, with the younger Queenslander trying to once more seize the coveted Joe Kirkwood Cup.
BMW Australia additionally has a presence at key native tournaments, personal membership activations, and luxurious way of life occasions, offering discerning golfers the chance to have interaction with the model not simply as drivers, however as lovers.
As BMW Australia strengthens its presence within the {golfing} world, the alignment between the model and the game turns into more and more plain.
“BMW and golf are aligned by shared values—a meticulous consideration to element and the pursuit of excellence,” stated Alex McLean – Normal Supervisor – Advertising and marketing, BMW Group Australia.
“Pleasure is on the centre of every little thing we do. Golfers perceive what makes a drive actually distinctive, each on and off the course.”
Smith locked in for RQ
IT’S been a poor yr by his personal lofty requirements, however Cameron Smith might be hoping to alter all that round when he competes within the BMW Australian PGA Championship at Royal Queensland in late November.
He was all the time anticipated to contest a match that he’s received 3 times – twice at Royal Pines (2017 and 2018) and as soon as at RQ (2022) – however match officers have been nonetheless relieved when he confirmed his look in September.
“It’s no secret I like enjoying in Brisbane in entrance of the Aussie followers, who’re among the many greatest on the earth, and the Australian PGA is with out query one in every of my favorite occasions every year,” he stated.
Smith, 32, can solely be disenchanted together with his efforts this yr.
He’s had 5 top-10 finishes in LIV occasions, with fourths in Miami and Mexico, each in April, his greatest outcomes. Smith missed the lower in every of the 4 majors and his Official World Rating has plummeted to 246th, although that measure has misplaced any actual that means for the reason that creation of LIV.
Paradoxically, his greatest efficiency within the final 12 months was in final yr’s Australian PGA, when he was narrowly crushed by fellow Queenslander Elvis Smylie, who will defend his title on this yr’s occasion, scheduled for November 27 to 30.
Additionally within the area are 2023 champion Min Woo Lee, two-time champ Adam Scott and PGA Tour winner, Kiwi Ryan Fox.
Revered because the winner of the 2022 Open Championship at St Andrews, Smith is a 12-time winner as an expert, together with three LIV victories and one crew championship because the captain of the all-Australian Ripper crew.
He’s performed the Australian PGA 10 occasions beforehand, for eight top-20 finishes and clearly loves the course – nearly as a lot as he loves the followers who flock to RQ’s riverside circuit.
“The crowds are all the time unbelievable, particularly for the locals like myself. Their assist mixed with love of golf is nice to see and the social gathering gap is a enjoyable place to be each spherical,” he stated.
Providing a prize purse of $2.5 million, the Australian PGA Championship is co-sanctioned by the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia and DP World Tour, and has attracted a powerful contingent of European golfers.
– PETER OWEN
