+++ Eagles for Education enters its second year at the BMW PGA
Championship – BMW Group donates £1,000 per eagle to the Golf
Foundation +++ Unleash Your Drive strengthens mental resilience in
pupils through golf +++ Fans can also support the Official Charity of
the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Club +++
London. From today until Sunday, a world-class field
will compete at the flagship event of the DP World Tour for one of
Europe’s most prestigious titles. On the road to victory at the BMW
PGA Championship, every eagle is particularly valuable – defending
champion Billy Horschel (USA), for example, defeated Rory McIlroy in a
playoff at the 18th hole in 2024 with an eagle. But beyond the
sporting outcome, eagles have a significant impact. As in the previous
year, the BMW Group is supporting the Golf Foundation through its
Eagles for Education initiative by donating £1,000 per eagle scored,
thereby contributing to the Unleash Your Drive programme.
Unleash Your Drive brings simplified versions of golf to schools
across England, aiming to strengthen mental toughness. Pupils are
taught to remain resilient, focused, and determined in the face of
challenges, setbacks, and pressure, while maintaining a positive and
determined mindset. These skills, which can be ideally practiced
through golf, will help to prepare youngsters for life inside and
outside the classroom.
The goals of the programme align perfectly with those of the Eagles
for Education initiative, through which the BMW Group fulfils its
social responsibility at international BMW golf tournaments. Together
with local organisations, it advocates for education and equal
opportunities for young people facing challenging starting conditions.
The collaboration with the Golf Foundation started last year. At the
2024 BMW PGA Championship, pros scored a total of 89 eagles. Winkfield
St Mary’s School in Bracknell was one of the many schools who
benefitted from the BMW Group’s donation of £89,000. As another week
of Eagles for Education began on Monday, Nick Dougherty, former
professional golfer, winner of the 2009 BMW International Open, and
President of the Golf Foundation, joined a session with the youngsters
and caught up with the teachers who have seen the impact on the
ground. He also invited the children to the BMW PGA Championship at
Wentworth Club.
As the Golf Foundation is also the Official Tournament Charity this
year, visitors can contribute to the good cause as well. Alongside
Eagles for Education, this year will see the Golf Foundation run the
Mega Putt as well as chipping and simulator challenges across the
Championship Village in order to raise vital funds. Every £10 raised
gets another pupil on the Unleash Your Drive programme, which sees six
weeks of golf delivered that focuses on vital mental toughness tools.
Through its Eagles for Education initiative, the BMW Group is also
involved in the BMW International Open (Germany) in support of the
Philipp Lahm Foundation for Sport and Education. As part of the global
amateur tournament series BMW Golf Cup, the Eagles for Education
initiative supports JOBLINGE in Germany and UNICEF at the World Final.
All proceeds from the BMW Championship (USA) benefit the Evans
Scholars Foundation, which awards full tuition and housing college
scholarships for deserving caddies.