Payne Stewart Award: An ambassador of the game

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Payne Stewart served as an ambassdor for the game of golf.

Editor's Note: The Payne Stewart Award is named for the 11-time winner on the PGA TOUR who died the week of the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola in 1999. The award was created by the PGA TOUR policy board to perpetuate Stewart's memory and is presented annually at the TOUR Championship to a player sharing Stewart's many admirable traits. Each week leading up to the announcement of this year's winner, PGATOUR.COM will select one of Stewart's qualities and highlight how those same qualities were shared by some of the previous winners of the Payne Stewart Award (click here for complete coverage).

When the golf world lost Payne Stewart on that tragic day back in 1999, it lost much more than a champion and fashion icon. It lost one of its premier ambassadors. Whether he was doing a post-tournament interview with the media, hosting a charity event or mentoring younger players looking for direction, Payne Stewart was the TOUR's pied piper. And everyone followed his lead.

Stewart led by example in everything he did. On the course, he knew how to put the pedal to the metal but also understood when par was a great score. Winning a pair of U.S. Opens is proof that his ability to think his way around a course was unmatched. Off the course, Stewart was a public relations dream come true. Here was a guy with Hollywood good looks who wore plus fours every week. Here was a guy who didn't give the media just canned quotes, but he actually said something when he opened his mouth. You could see him now doing plenty of network gigs a la Johnny Miller. Here was a guy who put his family and God way before major victories.

Stewart was a leader of the pack during the mid to late 1990s. In his early years on TOUR, however, he was leading a lot of folks in the wrong direction. He was rude to the media, cared only about his last birdie putt and basically was the blueprint for the type of player who could give the TOUR a negative name. Becoming a born again Christian changed that dangerous direction 180 degrees. Payne Stewart quickly became the model for what the TOUR wanted to portray.

Of course, few players ever had the complete package that Stewart possessed. How could they? Not only was he a great golfer who produced brilliant iron shots and clutch putts, but he also did it looking like a male fashion model and with a smile on his face. Even in defeat, Stewart remained a pillar of strength that the TOUR wanted all of its players to emulate.

Each of the first three men to win the Payne Stewart Award was an ambassador to the highest degree. And each of them did it his own unique way.

Arnold Palmer led an army of avid followers as the sport's swashbuckler. His vicious swing and abbreviated follow through were as memorable as his championships and good looks.

Byron Nelson dominated his sport like no other before him in the mid 1940s when he won an amazing 11 tournaments in a row. But more than his winning, Nelson became the game's renowned gentlemen and mentor. Nelson's tutelage of superstars, including Tom Watson, is a testament to his influence.

The Golden Bear, Jack Nicklaus, won more majors than any player in history. His incredible Masters win at the age of 46 remains his most famous moment. But like Palmer and Nelson, Nicklaus' post-golf career also has been filled with victories.

Not surprisingly, all three have been honored with their very own TOUR stop -- Palmer at Bay Hill, Nicklaus at the Memorial and Lord Byron's annual tournament in the Dallas area.

Tom Watson always has been one of his sport's most important ambassadors. His views on everything from the rules of golf to player behavior have made him an unofficial TOUR spokesperson. His credibility overseas is unmatched thanks for his success at the British Open, so his message really has no boundaries. Watson joined fellow ambassadors Palmer, Nicklaus and Nelson as a recipient of the Payne Stewart Award.

The other Payne Stewart Award recipients all served as ambassadors in their own special way.

Tom Lehman's seriousness about his game and faith.

Davis Love III and his quiet intensity.

Kenny Perry's good ol' boy attitude toward practice and his steely resolve between the ropes.

Brad Faxon's informative chatter to the media.

Ben Crenshaw's passionate, infectious personality.

Jay Haas' sportsmanship and gifted play.

Hal Sutton's never-say-die attitude.

Gary Player and Nick Price taking the lead for an entire continent.

They might approach this responsibility differently, but the results speak for themselves. All also were honored in past seasons with the Payne Stewart Award, a fitting tribute for true ambassadors of the game in the name of one of the game's greatest ambassadors.