The PGA Tour is returning to the Baltimore area, and tickets for the anticipated 2025 BMW Championship are available as of Thursday. The 2021 BMW Championship took place at Caves Valley Golf Club in Owings Mills, and it’ll be back at the same venue next summer after a few years away.
“It is terrific for the greater Baltimore-metro area to host an event like this,” Caves Valley president and chairman Steve Fader told The Baltimore Sun. “The direct economic impact is significant, and importantly, the proceeds of this tournament go to the Evans Scholars Foundation.”
The foundation awards college scholarships to youth caddies. In 2021, the championship raised $5.6 million and sent Evans Scholars to the University of Maryland, and there will be an Evans Scholars house on Maryland’s campus in the fall. Fader hopes that in addition to the charitable contributions, the economic impact in the area will surpass $50 million.
Tickets became available Thursday for all four of the 2025 tournament rounds, which begin on Aug. 14, as well as the practice rounds the two days before. Various ticketing packages can be purchased at bmwchampionship.com, with daily passes to access the grounds currently valued slightly above $100 for a tournament round. Fans 15 years old and younger receive free grounds admission when accompanied by a ticketed adult. Hospitality venues require a ticket for every fan, regardless of age.
The tournament is the penultimate FedEx Cup Playoff event, and only the top 50 golfers in the FedEx Cup standings will compete. It’s a no-cut event, which guarantees fans will see all 50 players tee it up in each of the four rounds, barring injury.
The 2024 BMW Championship included many of the biggest names in golf, including Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy and Xander Schauffele. Keegan Bradley, who will captain the 2025 U.S. Ryder Cup team in the fall, won the 2024 event. Patrick Cantlay, who won the 2021 BMW Championship at Caves Valley in a six-hole playoff over Bryson DeChambeau, was also in the 2024 field.
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“Four years ago, Caves Valley Golf Club and golf’s brightest stars delivered an instant classic,” Vince Pellegrino, Western Golf Association senior vice president of tournaments, said in a news release. “We’re thrilled to bring this historic championship back to an area with so many dedicated fans.”
Fans should expect a few notable differences in the 2025 iteration of the tournament. Cantlay and DeChambeau tied at 27-under par across 72 holes back in 2021, but scores aren’t expected to be so low in 2025. Since the 2021 tournament, Caves Valley added PrecisionAire subsurface systems under the course’s 18 greens that help control moisture levels. This allowed for alterations to the greens and should ensure the tournament plays tougher than in 2021, even if rain in the area softens the greens.
“I look for the course to play firmer and faster this year,” Fader said.
Additionally, the PGA Tour will have the course play to a par 70 in 2025, rather than the par-72 setup that yielded plenty of birdies in 2021. While the scores are expected to be higher in 2025, Fader is hopeful the upcoming championship will feature similar drama to Cantlay’s thrilling win.
“I can’t promise a six-hole playoff,” Fader said, “but I’d certainly like to see that happen again.”
Baltimore Sun co-owner David Smith is on the board of directors of MileOne Autogroup Inc., of which Fader is CEO, and has a controlling interest in it, according to SEC filings.
Have a news tip? Contact sports editor Bennett Conlin at bconlin@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/BennettConlin.
