The PGA swings into Chicago's South Suburbs
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The 18th hole at Olympia Fields Country Club. Photo courtesy of the BMW Championship
The PGA returns to greater Chicago this month for a huge tournament at Olympia Fields Country Club.
Why it matters: The BMW Championship will feature 50 of the world's top golfers, including Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm.
The intrigue: The tournament is back at Olympia Fields for the first time since 2020, when — due to the pandemic — golfers competed on the course without fans in attendance.
Context: The event has been taking place for over a century, under various names including the Western Amateur or the Western Open.
- It's produced by the Western Golf Association (WGA), located here.
- The WGA puts proceeds toward the Evans Scholarship, which sends caddies to college.
What they're saying: "We date back to 1899 with the championship, so coming back home is extremely important," WGA's Vince Pellegrino tells Axios. Pellegrino not only gives out the Evans scholarships, but he was a recipient when he was younger.
- "Caddying is the best summer job a kid can have," he says. "You learn to value hard work, and you learn how to communicate with successful people."
Zoom out: The Chicago area has several great golf courses that have hosted PGA previous events, including Medinah and Cog Hill in Lemont.
Yes, but: The Olympia Fields Country Club's "North Course" is considered one of the best in the country, beloved by professionals like Illinois' own Nick Hardy, who will be competing.
- "You can't really fake it around there," Hardy said about the course at a recent press conference. "You got to play really strong tee to green. I think it requires a great all-around game."
What's next: The BMW Championship takes place Aug. 17-20.