Paul Azinger named recipient of PGA Tour's 2025 Payne Stewart Award
The PGA Tour announced Monday it was honoring Azinger with the Payne Stewart Award in recognition of his character, sportsmanship and commitment to charitable giving.
The Payne Stewart Award is presented annually by the PGA Tour to a professional golfer who best exemplifies Stewart's steadfast values of character, charity and sportsmanship. Stewart, an 11-time PGA Tour winner and World Golf Hall of Fame member, died tragically 26 years ago during the week of the Tour Championship.
'To be named the recipient of this award, representing my dearest friend, is one of the proudest moments in my life,' Azinger said in a release. 'Payne displayed the ultimate character, sportsmanship and service to others throughout his career. He set the standard for how to represent the game of golf, so to be recognized for this award is truly humbling.'
Azinger is a native of Holyoke, Massachusetts, and has 12 Tour titles to his credit, including his most memorable win at the 1993 PGA Championship.
'We are pleased to add Paul Azinger's name to the long and illustrious list of those who have received the Payne Stewart Award presented by Southern Company,' said PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan. 'If there is one person who knows all the positive traits that exemplified Payne Stewart, it's his close friend, Paul. His values align with the character and charitable pursuits that Payne displayed throughout his career, and it's only fitting that Paul be honored with this year's award.'
The Tour will honor Azinger on Tuesday, Aug. 19, at the Payne Stewart Award Ceremony in conjunction with the Tour Championship. Golf Channel will televise the ceremony as part of a 'Golf Central' special from 7-8 p.m. EDT at the Southern Exchange in downtown Atlanta.
In addition to a sculpture by Bob Pack presented to the recipient, the Payne Stewart Award is accompanied by an annual Payne Stewart Award grant made possible by Southern Company. The $500,000 grant supports several initiatives in Stewart's name and is distributed as follows: $100,000 to Payne and Tracey Stewart's primary charity, The Stewart Family Foundation; $100,000 in Stewart's honor to Payne Stewart Memorial, located in Missouri at Kids Across America, which is affiliated with Kanakuk Kamps; and $300,000 to a charity designated by the recipient.
Azinger is directing funds to the Paul and Toni Azinger Charitable Fund, which will be used to continue the work at the Azinger Family Compassion Center. Opened in 2021 on the campus of One More Child, the 12,000-square-foot facility which aims to serve vulnerable and struggling families within Manatee County, Florida.
Over the past year, the Azinger Family Compassion Center for One More Child has distributed nearly $19 million worth of food, clothing, household items and other needed supplies, and supported more than 190 nonprofit partners from the surrounding area.
"Paul Azinger is a tremendous selection to be the next recipient of the Payne Stewart Award. Paul is a champion and leader who personifies what it means to be a Payne Stewart Award recipient, purposefully embodying Payne's values of character, charity and sportsmanship,' Chris Womack, chairman, president and CEO of Southern Company, said in a release. 'Paul and Toni are deeply committed to serving their community and continue to do remarkable philanthropic work supporting kids and families in their time of need.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
San Francisco Chronicle
6 minutes ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Spanish rider Garcia becomes the oldest stage winner at women's Tour de France at age 41
QUIMPER, France (AP) — Mavi Garcia became the oldest rider to win a stage at the women's Tour de France on Sunday. The 41-year-old Spaniard clinched the second stage with a solo breakaway. She looked back twice before realizing she would not be caught and then raised her arms aloft at the finish line. Dutch rider Annemiek van Vleuten was 39 when she won a mountain stage on the 2022 women's Tour, organizers said. Garcia attacked with about 11 kilometers (6.8 miles) left on the 110.4-kilometer hilly stage through Brittany and ending in Quimper. She looked like being caught near the end as the peloton loomed large behind her, but she kicked in and won by three seconds. 'I've been racing for a long time and I hadn't been having my best year, but this win really gives me a massive boost of energy,' Garcia said. 'I really didn't believe I was going to win at the end. I've tried many times like that and it never worked out, so I just couldn't believe it until I was five meters from the line.' Dutchwoman Lorena Wiebes was second and Kim Le Court of Mauritius took third place in a sprint to the line. Le Court did just enough to take the race leader's yellow jersey from cycling great Marianne Vos, who won Saturday's opening stage in a close finish and placed fifth on Sunday. Le Court and Vos have the same overall time after two stages, but Le Court now leads overall courtesy of her better combined stage finishes over the first two days. Stage 3 on Monday is a flat stage for sprinters, ending in the western city of Angers. The nine-stage race ends on Aug. 3. Last year provided the smallest winning margin in the history of the women's and men's races, with Polish rider Kasia Niewiadoma beating 2023 champion Demi Vollering by four seconds, and Pauliena Rooijakkers only 10 seconds off the pace in third place. ___
Fox Sports
25 minutes ago
- Fox Sports
Spanish rider Garcia becomes the oldest stage winner at women's Tour de France at age 41
Associated Press QUIMPER, France (AP) — Mavi Garcia became the oldest rider to win a stage at the women's Tour de France on Sunday. The 41-year-old Spaniard clinched the second stage with a solo breakaway. She looked back twice before realizing she would not be caught and then raised her arms aloft at the finish line. Dutch rider Annemiek van Vleuten was 39 when she won a mountain stage on the 2022 women's Tour, organizers said. Garcia attacked with about 11 kilometers (6.8 miles) left on the 110.4-kilometer hilly stage through Brittany and ending in Quimper. She looked like being caught near the end as the peloton loomed large behind her, but she kicked in and won by three seconds. 'I've been racing for a long time and I hadn't been having my best year, but this win really gives me a massive boost of energy,' Garcia said. 'I really didn't believe I was going to win at the end. I've tried many times like that and it never worked out, so I just couldn't believe it until I was five meters from the line.' Dutchwoman Lorena Wiebes was second and Kim Le Court of Mauritius took third place in a sprint to the line. Le Court did just enough to take the race leader's yellow jersey from cycling great Marianne Vos, who won Saturday's opening stage in a close finish and placed fifth on Sunday. Le Court and Vos have the same overall time after two stages, but Le Court now leads overall courtesy of her better combined stage finishes over the first two days. Stage 3 on Monday is a flat stage for sprinters, ending in the western city of Angers. The nine-stage race ends on Aug. 3. Last year provided the smallest winning margin in the history of the women's and men's races, with Polish rider Kasia Niewiadoma beating 2023 champion Demi Vollering by four seconds, and Pauliena Rooijakkers only 10 seconds off the pace in third place. ___ AP sports: in this topic
Newsweek
37 minutes ago
- Newsweek
How to Watch 3M Open Final Round: Live Stream PGA Tour Golf, TV Channel
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A thrilling final round at the 3M Open will take place on Sunday, with American golfer Akshay Bhatia tied at the top of the leaderboard with Thorbjørn Olesen at 18 under par. Thorbjorn Olesen of Denmark pulls a club from his caddie Nick pell Cavendish on the 14th hole during the third round of the 3M Open 2025 at TPC Twin Cities on July 26, 2025 in... Thorbjorn Olesen of Denmark pulls a club from his caddie Nick pell Cavendish on the 14th hole during the third round of the 3M Open 2025 at TPC Twin Cities on July 26, 2025 in Blaine, Minnesota. More Photo bySunday's final round at TPC Twin Cities for the 3M Open could truly go to anyone, because behind Bhatia and Olesen, another four golfers are one stroke behind, at 17 under par. They are Americans Samuel Stevens, Kurt Kitayama, and Jake Knapp, as well as Japanese golfer Takumi Kanaya. To just add to the drama, right behind them at 16 under par, two strokes from the lead, are another three golfers: Sweden's Alex Norén, as well as American golfers Chris Gotterup and Pierceson Coody. Sunday's final round at the 3M Open is truly up in the air. How to Watch the 3M Open Final Round Date: Sunday, July 13, 2025 Time: 1:00 p.m. ET Venue: TPC Twin Cities Channel: The Golf Channel Stream: Fubo (Start Watching) The 35-year-old Olesen has eight European Tour wins in his career, including the 2023 Thailand Classic. His best finish at a major came at the 2013 Masters when he finished sixth. Bhatia, meanwhile, is a 23-year-old with six professional wins in his career, including two on the PGA Tour: the 2023 Barracuda Championship and the 2024 Valero Texas Open. Bhatia has yet to finish ranked higher than 16th at any major. Will Olesen finish the job on Sunday and win the 3M Open Final and a big chunk of the $8.4 million prize purse? Or will Bhatia win his third PGA Tour event? Tune the channel to The Golf Channel at 1:00 p.m. ET on Sunday afternoon to catch the final round of the 3M Open Championship. Live stream the 3M Open final round on Fubo: Start your subscription now! Regional restrictions may apply. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation.
