Payne Stewart Award to be featured on GOLF CHANNEL

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Davis Love III was the recipient of the 2008 Payne Stewart Award.

For the past 10 years, Southern Company and the PGA TOUR have honored the memory of Payne Stewart with the Payne Stewart Award. The award is presented annually to a player sharing Stewart's respect for the traditions of the game, his commitment to uphold the game's heritage of charitable support and his professional and meticulous presentation of himself and the sport through his dress and conduct. The 2009 season is especially poignant in regards to Stewart, as it marks 10 years since his famous 15-foot putt for par on the 18th hole to win the 1999 U.S. Open.

To further celebrate Payne's legacy, Southern Company will sponsor an 11-week vignette series, "A Lasting Legacy", from July 14-September 29 on GOLF CHANNEL'S Inside the PGA TOUR. The first episode of the series will spotlight the 10-year anniversary of the Payne Stewart and celebrate the life and career of Payne Stewart. Each following week will highlight past winners of the Payne Stewart Award, including Byron Nelson, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Ben Crenshaw, Nick Price, Tom Watson, Jay Haas, Brad Faxon, Gary Player, Hal Sutton and Davis Love III. The final episode will feature the 2009 winner, who will be named during THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola at East Lake Golf Club on Tuesday, September 22, and will include footage from the award ceremony.

"Southern Company is honored to partner with the Payne Stewart Award to annually recognize a player who shares Payne Stewart's love and respect for the game of golf, and who embodies the same ideals of hard work, integrity and commitment," said Chris Womack, EVP, Southern Company. "We believe it's most fitting in a year that marks the 10-year anniversary of Payne Stewart's victory at the 1999 U.S. Open, and the creation of the Payne Stewart Award, that this special series air and we are proud to be associated with it."

In addition to the 11-week vignette series on GOLF CHANNEL, NBC will air a one-hour tribute, "Remembering Payne Stewart presented by Southern Company", at 1:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, September 20.

The inaugural Payne Stewart Award was presented in 2000 to Byron Nelson, Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer. Ben Crenshaw was the 2001 recipient, followed by Nick Price in 2002, Tom Watson in 2003, Jay Haas in 2004, Brad Faxon in 2005, Gary Player in 2006, Hal Sutton in 2007 and Davis Love III in 2008.

In addition to a sculpture presented to the recipient, the Payne Stewart Award is accompanied by an annual Payne Stewart Award Grant presented by Southern Company. The $300,000 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 The First Tee facility in Missouri; and $100,000 to a charity designated by the winner.

This year's award will be announced and presented during THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Ga. on Tuesday, Sept. 22.