Within the PGA Tour, there are a few awards that are not awarded through tournaments. Awards like the Courage Award that Gary Woodland received earlier this year after overcoming his medical troubles. These awards aren’t exactly sought after, but they are still a great honor for those who receive them. One of these awards is the Payne Stewart Award, named after a former PGA pro. This year, it is being awarded to Paul Azinger for exemplifying the values the award represents.
What Is The Payne Stewart Award?
The Payne Stewart Award is an annual award given based on the merit of a player’s personality and actions. This includes a player’s sportsmanship, charity, and character, all in ways that align with how the namesake of the award presented himself. The award itself is named after William Payne Stewart, a professional golfer who was a member of the PGA Tour from 1981 until his tragic death in 1999. The award was created in his honor the following year. In the spirit of Payne Stewart, the award is accompanied by a $500k grant for charity. The award has been given out every year since. Players known for their character have received it, like Justin Rose, who is known for his sportsmanship. Now Paul Azinger has been added to that list.
Why Paul Azinger?
The reason why Paul Azinger was nominated and eventually received the award was because of his charitable activities. Azinger and his wife funded a help center for children and families in need with the help of One More Child. The center is called the Paul and Toni Azinger Compassion Center. The goal is to help children and families in hard times. The center cited hardships caused by the opioid crisis, foster care, or families who are facing poverty.
For the award, PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan made the announcement and gave his congratulations to Paul Azinger.
“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. 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 Stewart displayed throughout his career, and it’s only fitting that Paul be honored with this year’s award.”
Paul Azinger Responds
The award came as a surprise to Azinger, who didn’t even know he was receiving said award. He was brought onto the set of The Drop, an official PGA Tour show that launched this year. Azinger was thinking that it was about his new role on the PGA Tour Champions Broadcasts. He was then surprised as Tracey Stewart and her son, Aaron Stewart, came onto set to deliver the news.
Azinger would then call it a humbling experience to receive the award named after his good friend from years ago, but also one of the proudest moments of his life. He never thought that he would receive this award after his golf career ended, and nonetheless feels greatly honored by receiving it. Azinger plans on continuing to embody the characteristics that got him the Payne Stewart award and plans on continuing his charitable activities in the foreseeable future.
Main Photo Credit: © Fred Squillante / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
