German automotive manufacturer BMW has sealed a four year extension to its partnership with golf’s European Tour running until the end of the 2018 season.
Under the deal, the financial terms of which were undisclosed, the company retains the title sponsorship for the European Tour’s flagship BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, the BMW International Open in Germany and the BMW Masters in China, along with its position as the official car of the tour and official partner to the Ryder Cup.
This week marks BMW’s 10th season in the naming spot at Wentworth when the PGA Championship runs from May 22-25. European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley, US Open champion Justin Rose and defending Wentworth title-winner Matteo Manassero took part in a nearest-the-pin challenge on three specially created greens at Hyde Park, London to mark the extended agreement before being driven to Wentworth in a range of classic BMW cars.
The European Tour’s renewal with BMW follows last week’s penning of fresh terms with another top-tier partner, golf equipment manufacturer Titleist. That deal also runs through 2018, with Emirates and Rolex also serving as top-tier partners of the Tour.
European Tour chief executive George O’Grady said: “BMW’s support not only of our flagship event at Wentworth, but also key events in Germany and China, further enhances the European Tour’s strategy of expansion throughout the world and I am delighted that we have secured our partnership for a further four years.”
The 2014 edition of the BMW International Open takes place at Golf Club Gut Lärchenhof in Cologne from June 26-29, with the BMW Masters at Lake Malaren Golf Club, Shanghai running from October 30-November 2 – five weeks after the 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles.