Beyond the gleaming trophies for low scores, the PGA TOUR presents a unique honor that holds a special place in the hearts of golf fans and players: the Payne Stewart Award. More than just a piece of silverware, this award speaks to the soul of the game itself. This article will guide you through the story of the man it’s named after, what the award represents, the criteria for winning it, and why it is one of the most respected accolades in all of professional sports.
To understand the award, you first have to understand the man. Payne Stewart was one of the most recognizable and beloved figures in golf during the 1980s and 1990s. With his fluid, graceful swing and his signature “plus-fours” trousers and tam o’shanter cap, he was impossible to miss. He brought a flair and personality to the tour that fans adored. Stewart wasn't just a stylish dresser, though, he was a world-class competitor.
His impressive career included 11 PGA TOUR victories and three major championships:
His final major victory at Pinehurst No. 2 in 1999 is one for the ages. He sank a dramatic 15-foot par putt on the 18th hole to beat Phil Mickelson by a single stroke. The celebration that followed - a fist pump with one leg kicked high in the air - is one of the most iconic images in golf history. But what happened next truly defined him. Stewart immediately approached Mickelson, holding his competitor's face in his hands, and reminded him that the joy of becoming a father, which Mickelson was expecting any day, would far surpass any disappointment from the tournament.
Earlier in his career, Stewart had a reputation for being brash and, at times, arrogant. But over the years, he matured into a thoughtful and respected ambassador for the game. He came to understand his responsibility not just as a player, but as a role model who upheld the traditions of golf. Tragically, in October 1999, just four months after his victory at Pinehurst and a month after helping lead the U.S. to a historic Ryder Cup victory, Payne Stewart passed away in a private plane crash. He was 42 years old. The golf community was left devastated, having lost one of its brightest and most cherished personalities.
The following year, in 2000, the PGA TOUR created the Payne Stewart Award to honor his memory and celebrate the values he came to represent. It is presented annually during the week of the TOUR Championship, the prestigious season-ending event. Its purpose is clear and powerful: to recognize a professional golfer who shares Stewart’s steadfast commitment to character, charity, and sportsmanship.
It’s not an award for the best player of the year, the FedExCup champion, or the leading money winner. Instead, it honors something more profound. It recognizes the individual who best reflects the spirit Payne Stewart demonstrated, respecting the game’s deep-rooted traditions while still connecting with fans and making a positive impact on the world around them. The creation of this award ensured that while Stewart was gone, his influential legacy would be championed for generations to come.
The selection process for the Payne Stewart Award is guided by three core principles, often called the "three pillars." A nominee must demonstrate excellence across all three areas, reflecting the well-rounded person and professional that Payne Stewart became.
In the context of the Payne Stewart Award, character refers to a player's unwavering respect for the integrity of golf. This means honoring the rules, both written and unwritten, and carrying oneself with distinction on and off the course. It’s about playing with honesty, taking responsibility for one’s actions, and understanding your place in the long history of the sport.
As a coach, I see this as the foundation of any great golfer. It's about how you repair your pitch marks, how you treat the golf course, and the respect you show to your playing partners, officials, and volunteers. The winner of this award is someone who other players look up to not just for their skill, but for their conduct. They are the standard-bearers for how a professional golfer should act, embodying the gentlemanly (or gentlewomanly) principles the game was built on.
This pillar focuses on a player's commitment to giving back. The recipient of the award must show a genuine dedication to philanthropy. This often goes far beyond just writing a check. It involves actively using their name, platform, and resources to make a difference in the community and support causes they are passionate about.
Many past winners have established their own charitable foundations, focusing on everything from children's healthcare to educational programs for underprivileged youth. They host tournaments, make public appearances, and work tirelessly to raise money and awareness for those in need. This commitment to charity reflects an understanding that being a professional golfer provides a unique opportunity to create positive change, a responsibility Payne Stewart took seriously.
Sportsmanship is perhaps the most visible of the three pillars. It’s seen in how a player interacts with competitors, fans, and the media. A great sportsman is gracious in victory and dignified in defeat. They compete fiercely but respect their fellow players. They celebrate others' good shots and offer genuine condolences on their bad breaks.
Payne Stewart's moment with Phil Mickelson at the '99 U.S. Open is the ultimate example. It showed that even in the heat of his greatest personal triumph, he had the presence of mind and compassion to think of his rival first. The winner of the Payne Stewart Award is someone who makes golf better for everyone around them. They sign autographs patiently, thank the fans, and make themselves approachable, strengthening the bond between the players and the people who love watching them.
Looking at the list of recipients is like reading a who’s who of golf’s greatest ambassadors. The award's prestige was established from its first year in 2000, when it was presented posthumously to Stewart and jointly to three legends who perfectly embodied its ideals: Byron Nelson, Jack Nicklaus, and Arnold Palmer.
Since then, the honor roll has continued to grow with names that command universal respect:
For these players, receiving the Payne Stewart Award is often cited as a career highlight. While majors define a player's performance on the course, this award certifies their legacy as a human being. It’s a collective nod from the golf community that says, "You didn't just play the game well, you have honored it."
The winner of the Payne Stewart Award receives more than just a beautiful sculpture depicting Stewart's iconic pose. The award comes with a $300,000 grant from the TOUR, distributed by the Stewart family and presented by Southern Company. All of this money is directed to charities designated by the recipient, furthering the award’s philanthropic mission.
Emotionally, its value is immeasurable. Winners often speak with incredible passion and humility during their acceptance speech, reflecting on their careers and the people who helped them. It is a moment of deep introspection, putting a lifetime of hard work - both on and off the course - into perspective. Being a Payne Stewart Award winner places a player in an elite club of golfers who are remembered not just for how far they hit the ball, but for the depth of their character.
As a golf coach, I emphasize that how you carry yourself matters just as much as your score. The Payne Stewart Award is the ultimate manifestation of this lesson. It teaches every one of us, from weekend amateurs to aspiring pros, that the goal isn't just to be a great golfer - it's to be a person that other golfers admire and respect. It's about leaving the game, and the people in it, a little bit better than you found them.
The Payne Stewart Award stands as a beautiful reminder that golf is more than a game of numbers. It's a sport that celebrates integrity, generosity, and respect, and this award honors the person who best embodies those core values in memory of a man who ultimately represented them all.
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