Latest news with #PayneStewartAward
Reuters
17 hours ago
- Sport
- Reuters
PGA Tour recognizes Paul Azinger with Payne Stewart Award
July 21 - Paul Azinger was named the 2025 recipient of the Payne Stewart Award, the PGA Tour's annual award honoring a player for his character, sportsmanship and commitment to charitable giving. Azinger, 65, was close friends with Stewart, who died in a plane accident in 1999. "If there is one person who knows all the positive traits that exemplified Payne Stewart, it's his close friend, Paul," PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan said in a statement. "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." Azinger receives a $500,000 grant in Stewart's name for his multiple charitable efforts. Much of it will be directed toward the Paul and Toni Azinger Charitable Fund, which is doing work in Manatee County, Fla., to help vulnerable and underserved families. "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 statement. "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 won the 1993 PGA Championship among his 12 PGA Tour titles. More recently, he served as the lead golf analyst for NBC Sports and Golf Channel broadcasts, though his contract was not renewed in 2024. He is now on a one-year deal with Golf Channel as an analyst for PGA Tour Champions broadcasts. Recent winners of the Payne Stewart Award include Brandt Snedeker (2024), Gary Koch (2023), Billy Andrade (2022), Justin Rose (2021) and Zach Johnson (2020). --Field Level Media
USA Today
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Paul Azinger named recipient of PGA Tour's 2025 Payne Stewart Award
Paul Azinger has another honor to add to his resume. 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.'
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Paul Azinger is selected to receive the PGA Tour's Payne Stewart Award
Paul Azinger is getting what he considers the greatest honor of his career. He was announced Monday as recipient of the Payne Stewart Award that recognizes traits belonging to his closest friend on the PGA Tour. The award began in 2000, a year after Stewart and three others died in a plane crash. It has become one of the top awards in golf, with a ceremony televised live from Atlanta during the Tour Championship in August. "To be named the recipient of this award, representing my dearest friend, is one of the proudest moments in my life,' Azinger said. Azinger is a 12-time winner on the PGA Tour, including the 1993 PGA Championship that he won in a playoff. He is equally known for reshaping the Ryder Cup qualification system and leading the Americans to a rare victory against Europe in 2008. He now works as a television analyst for the PGA Tour Champions. The award honors a player who shows character, sportsmanship and commitment to charity. Azinger and his wife, Toni, in 2021 opened the Azinger Family Compassion Center, which serves vulnerable and struggling families in Manatee County in Florida. The Southern Company, which sponsors the award, donates $300,000 toward the recipient's charity and $200,000 to Stewart Family Foundation programs. Stewart, a three-time major champion and the reigning U.S. Open champion when he died in 1999, and Azinger were close friends on tour. Azinger was the main speaker at Stewart's memorial service, rolling up his pants to look like plus fours and wearing a tam o'shanter cap. '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 said. The ceremony will be Aug. 19. Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Byron Nelson received the inaugural award. Brandt Snedeker received it last year. Other winners over the years have included Tom Watson and Nick Price, Steve Stricker and Tom Lehman. 'If there is one person who knows all the positive traits that exemplified Payne Stewart, it's his close friend, Paul," PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan said. "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.' ___ AP golf:
Fox Sports
20 hours ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Paul Azinger is selected to receive the PGA Tour's Payne Stewart Award
Associated Press Paul Azinger is getting what he considers the greatest honor of his career. He was announced Monday as recipient of the Payne Stewart Award that recognizes traits belonging to his closest friend on the PGA Tour. The award began in 2000, a year after Stewart and three others died in a plane crash. It has become one of the top awards in golf, with a ceremony televised live from Atlanta during the Tour Championship in August. "To be named the recipient of this award, representing my dearest friend, is one of the proudest moments in my life,' Azinger said. Azinger is a 12-time winner on the PGA Tour, including the 1993 PGA Championship that he won in a playoff. He is equally known for reshaping the Ryder Cup qualification system and leading the Americans to a rare victory against Europe in 2008. He now works as a television analyst for the PGA Tour Champions. The award honors a player who shows character, sportsmanship and commitment to charity. Azinger and his wife, Toni, in 2021 opened the Azinger Family Compassion Center, which serves vulnerable and struggling families in Manatee County in Florida. The Southern Company, which sponsors the award, donates $300,000 toward the recipient's charity and $200,000 to Stewart Family Foundation programs. Stewart, a three-time major champion and the reigning U.S. Open champion when he died in 1999, and Azinger were close friends on tour. Azinger was the main speaker at Stewart's memorial service, rolling up his pants to look like plus fours and wearing a tam o'shanter cap. '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 said. The ceremony will be Aug. 19. Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Byron Nelson received the inaugural award. Brandt Snedeker received it last year. Other winners over the years have included Tom Watson and Nick Price, Steve Stricker and Tom Lehman. 'If there is one person who knows all the positive traits that exemplified Payne Stewart, it's his close friend, Paul," PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan said. "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.' ___ AP golf: recommended Item 1 of 2
Washington Post
20 hours ago
- Sport
- Washington Post
Paul Azinger is selected to receive the PGA Tour's Payne Stewart Award
Paul Azinger is getting what he considers the greatest honor of his career. He was announced Monday as recipient of the Payne Stewart Award that recognizes traits belonging to his closest friend on the PGA Tour. The award began in 2000, a year after Stewart and three others died in a plane crash. It has become one of the top awards in golf, with a ceremony televised live from Atlanta during the Tour Championship in August. 'To be named the recipient of this award, representing my dearest friend, is one of the proudest moments in my life,' Azinger said. Azinger is a 12-time winner on the PGA Tour, including the 1993 PGA Championship that he won in a playoff. He is equally known for reshaping the Ryder Cup qualification system and leading the Americans to a rare victory against Europe in 2008. He now works as a television analyst for the PGA Tour Champions. The award honors a player who shows character, sportsmanship and commitment to charity. Azinger and his wife, Toni, in 2021 opened the Azinger Family Compassion Center, which serves vulnerable and struggling families in Manatee County in Florida. The Southern Company, which sponsors the award, donates $300,000 toward the recipient's charity and $200,000 to Stewart Family Foundation programs. Stewart, a three-time major champion and the reigning U.S. Open champion when he died in 1999 , and Azinger were close friends on tour. Azinger was the main speaker at Stewart's memorial service, rolling up his pants to look like plus fours and wearing a tam o'shanter cap. '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 said. The ceremony will be Aug. 19. Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Byron Nelson received the inaugural award. Brandt Snedeker received it last year. Other winners over the years have included Tom Watson and Nick Price, Steve Stricker and Tom Lehman. 'If there is one person who knows all the positive traits that exemplified Payne Stewart, it's his close friend, Paul,' PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan said. '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.' ___ AP golf:
