The Golf Foundation were delighted to receive the support of BMW at the BMW PGA Championship this year, as the tournament’s title sponsors celebrated 20 years working with the DP World Tour’s flagship event.
At this year’s event, BMW committed their Eagles For Education initiative to support the Golf Foundation’s schools programme Unleash Your Drive. A fantastic week of action saw 89 eagles scored across four days, with an eagle from Billy Horschel ultimately winning the week in a playoff. That means BMW will donate £89,000 to the Golf Foundation’s schools programme to continue their drive to support education.
Unleash Your Drive in Schools was launched by Golf Foundation President Nick Dougherty at the BMW PGA Championship in September 2023, and has seen over 1,000 schools register their interest in the first year.
The programme uses an introduction to golf to help teach mental toughness tools to young people, and early results have seen a 23% improvement in pupils’ understanding of mental toughness and the tools they need to help cope when playing golf, or when they face challenges in the classroom or at home.
With one in five young people facing probable mental health issues, and children from disadvantaged backgrounds being three times more likely to suffer from mental health problems, the programme has been welcomed by schools across the home nations.
The Eagles For Education initiative was launched at the BMW International Open in 2023, and the Golf Foundation are delighted that BMW chose to bring the same support to the Wentworth tournament for 2024, as well as continuing their support across European events.
As well as the Eagles For Education, the Golf Foundation were also present in the Championship Village at Wentworth, where visitors were invited to play fun games and activations, and discover the mental toughness tools that have been used in schools. School groups came to experience Wentworth event thanks to the support of the Golf Foundation and DP World Tour.
“We are incredibly thankful to BMW for their support,” Brendon Pyle, CEO of the Golf Foundation, said. “From the start, they have really understood what we are trying to do with our schools programme and they have thrown their support behind us. Our values are very much aligned and we are so pleased that they have committed such a large support to help us deliver bags of equipment to more schools. Thanks to the DP World Tour as well, and of course to the players who went out and played so well to secure so many eagles!”
“We are delighted about a fantastic anniversary week at the BMW PGA Championship which treated the fans with magnificent golf and an impressive 89 eagles. It was the perfect start to ‘Eagles for Education’ at the BMW PGA Championship and our support of the Golf Foundation,” said David George, CEO at BMW Group UK and Ireland. “The BMW Group believes strongly in the great work of the Golf Foundation, which creates opportunities for young people to reach their full potential. Education for everyone is the key to a self-determined future for young people and an important pillar for the cohesion of our society.”
To find out more, visit www.golf-foundation.org