Please Visit the BMW Championship: It's for the Caddies

BMW proceeds fund caddie scholarships.

If you are in the Chicago area and enjoy golf or are just looking for a pleasant walk on a nice day in a beautiful place, I would encourage you to attend the BMW Championship this week. Previously known as the Western Open, with a history extending back to 1899 when it started at the course (Glen View Club) where I caddied, the BMW is the penultimate tournament in the Fedex Cup series that finishes the PGA Tour season. Tiger will be there. Phil too. Adam, Bubba, Ernie and Rory will compete. And Henrik. Golfers of local interest include Steve Stricker (Madison, Wisconsin native and resident) and Luke Donald (Northwestern grad and year round Chicago area resident). Gene Sarazen, Sam Snead, Byron Nelson and Ben Hogan are past champions -- Arnold Palmer, Billy Casper, Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson too. Tiger Woods is a five time winner and Rory McIlroy is defending his title. In other words, most of the golfing legends of the last century have taken home silver from this Western Golf Association event.

Jock Hutchison (left) and
Chick Evans, circa 1920.

Two players I caddied for in my youth, Chick Evans (1910) and Jock Hutchison (1920 and 1923), are past champions as well.

Arnold Palmer, left
congratulated by Sam Snead
for winning the Western Open,
June 25, 1961.

Event proceeds go to fund the Evans Scholar Foundation, which awards more than 200 full tuition scholarships each year. More than 10,000 caddies have attended college on Evans scholarships. The program has a 90 percent graduation rate.




There is a rigorous application process. Each year, more than 800 deserving caddies attend college on full tuition and housing grants from the Evans Scholars Foundation. To qualify, caddies must be nominated by their club and meet four requirements:

• Strong caddie record: Applicants must have caddied, successfully and regularly, for a minimum of two years and are also expected to caddie and/or work at their sponsoring club during the summer when they apply for the scholarship.

• Excellent academics: Applicants must have completed their junior year of high school with above a B average in college preparatory courses and are required to take the ACT.

• Demonstrated financial need: Applicants must clearly establish their need for financial assistance.

• Outstanding character: Applicants must be outstanding in character, integrity and leadership.Applicants are evaluated and compete on the above criteria for the limited number of Chick Evans Caddie Scholarships awarded annually. The Scholarship Committee will interview finalists and the final selection rests with the Committee.

I was fortunate enough to win an Evans Scholarship -- it's my favorite charity. 

To apply for the scholarship us caddies needed letters of recommendation from our schools, the Chairman of the Caddie Committee, the Club President and the Club Pro where we caddied. The program is funded solely by private donations. There is much to be said to tying scholarship awards with work.

Scholarships are offered at the following universities, most of which maintains an Evans Scholarship house for recipients.

	State/Area	University
	Colorado	University of Colorado (Boulder)
	Illinois	University of Illinois (Champaign); Northern Illinois University (DeKalb); Northwestern University (Evanston); Marquette University (Milwaukee, WI); Miami University (Oxford, OH); University of Colorado (Boulder)
	Kansas City Area	University of Missouri (Columbia)
	Michigan	University of Michigan (Ann Arbor); Michigan State University (East Lansing)
	Minnesota	University of Minnesota (Twin Cities)
	Missouri	University of Missouri (Columbia)
	Ohio	Ohio State University (Columbus); Miami University (Oxford)
	Oregon	University of Oregon (Eugene);  Oregon State University (Corvallis)
	Wisconsin	University of Wisconsin (Madison)
	Other States/Areas	Northwestern University (Evanston, IL); Miami University (Oxford, OH); University of Colorado (Boulder); University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN

This year's tournament will be played at Conway Farms in Lake Forest, Illinois. Information on tickets, directions and parking are available on the tournament website. Cheers!

Rory McIlroy, 2012 BMW Championship