PGA TOUR Pro Bubba Watson's Golf Ball Drive Attempt Across Mississippi River Falls...

PGA TOUR Pro Bubba Watson's Golf Ball Drive Attempt Across Mississippi River
Falls Just Short and Lands 'In the Drink' During Inaugural Event of 2008 BMW
Championship
Watson announces $10,000 donation to Evans Scholars Foundation, which provides
college scholarships to deserving high school caddies, at event

ST. LOUIS, Sept. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- PGA TOUR pro Bubba Watson, the TOUR's
leader in average distance per drive, today welcomed the BMW Championship to
St. Louis by attempting to drive a golf ball over the Mississippi River --
ceremonially kicking off the BMW Championship. Unfortunately, in the shadow
of the St. Louis Arch, Watson's 560-yard shot-attempt fell short and landed in
the Mighty Mississippi as Rams Wide Receiver Dane Looker and Punter Donnie
Jones -- who both also attempted to drive the ball to Illinois -- looked on.
The BMW Championship, the third leg in the PGA TOUR's Playoffs for the
FedExCup, will take place at Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis from
September 2-7th. BMW offered to donate an Evans Scholarship in the name of
each athlete able to succeed at the feat. Evans Scholarships are awarded to
deserving high school caddies and provide full tuition and housing grants.
Despite not clearing the river, Watson, who is passionate supporter of the
Evans Scholars, announced that he will donate $10,000 to the Foundation.
Since its founding in 1930, the Evans Scholars Foundation has provided
more than 8,600 Evans Scholarships to golf caddies across the U.S. BMW
donates all proceeds of the BMW Championship to the Evans Scholars Foundation.
Last year, those proceeds totaled $2.4 million.
"We congratulate Bubba Watson on attempting to make such a dramatic shot
-- and thank him for helping us ceremonially kick-off what we are sure is
going to be a great BMW Championship," said Jim O'Donnell, president of BMW of
North America.
Last year the PGA TOUR and the Western Golf Association announced that
starting in 2008, the BMW Championship would travel to some of the premiere
golf courses in the Midwest every other year. After this year's BMW
Championship in St. Louis the tournament will return to Chicago in 2009 and
every second year thereafter. The tournament will be played in Indianapolis
at the Crooked Stick Golf Club in 2010 and at a yet to be determined location
in 2012.
SOURCE BMW of North America

Shawn Ticehurst, Marketing and Events Communications Manager of BMW of North
America, LLC, +1-201-594-3360, Shawn.Ticehurst@bmwna.com; or Kimberly Kress,
Senior Vice President of Rubenstein Communications, Inc., cell
+1-516-330-6672, kkress@rubenstein.com, for BMW of North America