Chevron donates $530K for eagles scored at Chevron World Challenge
Oil giant Chevron Corp., in its third year as title sponsor, recently saw The Chevron World Challenge wrap up its 12th year of bringing together some of golf's finest players in a tournament benefitting various education-focused nonprofits.
The offseason tournament, a PGA TOUR co-sponsored event and part of the Official World Golf Ranking, is hosted by Tiger Woods at the Jack Nicklaus-designed Sherwood Country Club gold course in Thousand Oaks, California. The 72-hole, regulation-play event features an elite field of 18 PGA Tour players competing for a $5 million purse.
This year, US Open champion Graeme McDowell, who came in second in the Chevron World Challenge behind Jim Furyk last year, managed a four-shot comeback including two long birdie putts on No. 18 to defeat Tiger Woods, a four time tournament winner. For his win, McDowell claimed $1.2 million and moved up to No. 7 in the Official World Golf Ranking.
In addition to bringing together some of the world's best golfers, the tournament brings together education-focused nonprofit partners.
New to the tournament this year was Chevron's Eagles For Education. Throughout the four days of tournament play, Chevron donated $15,000 to the tournament's nonprofit education partners for every eagle scored.
The donation amount increased each day. Eagles earned $15,000 on Thursday, December 2, jumped to $25,000 on Friday, December 3, doubled to $50,000 on Saturday, December 4, and doubled again to $100,000 for the final day of the tournament on Sunday, December 5.
A total of 13 eagles and one double eagle were scored during the tournament for a total Eagles For Education donation of $530,000. Notable results include overall eagle leader Paul Casey with three eagles, and Bubba Watson with the tournament's lone double eagle on the 16th hole on Friday. Anthony Kim and Sean O'Hair eagled twice. McDowell, the tournament's winner, shot one eagle as did tournament runner-up Woods. Others to eagle were Dustin Johnson, Rory McIlroy, Ian Poulter, and Nick Watney.
Nonprofit partners participating in The 2010 Chevron World Challenge included DonorsChoose.org, Project Lead the Way, Teach For America, TELACU Education Foundation and the Tiger Woods Foundation. Supporting the belief that there is no single solution to improving education in California, the Chevron World Challenge nonprofit partnerships reflect a variety of educational approaches:
DonorsChoose.org uses the power of the Internet to direct millions of dollars in contributions from individuals to fund classroom projects across the country. Project Lead the Way engages students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields through its rigorous, hands-on curriculum that fosters in students a love of learning and a passion for solving our world's challenges. Teach For America is the national corps of top college graduates and professionals who commit to teach for two years in urban and rural public school and become lifelong leaders in the effort to expand educational opportunity. TELACU Education Foundation prepares Latino students for academic success in underserved communities throughout Los Angeles County. Tiger Woods Foundation is a global organization focused on reaching young people through innovative education facilities, original curricula, grants and college scholarships.
"The Chevron World Challenge brings together some of the world's best golfers while supporting innovative education programs in California," said Rhonda I. Zygocki, vice president of Policy, Government and Public Affairs for Chevron Corp. "Eagles for Education has provided an exciting platform for Chevron to increase its support for our nonprofit partners throughout the tournament."