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Payne Stewart won the U.S. Open in 1999 at Pinehurst.

A champion in the truest sense of the word, both inside and outside the ropes, Payne Stewart possessed all of the positive characteristics that distinguish the game of golf: Honesty, integrity and sportsmanship. An 11-time PGA TOUR winner and three-time major champion, as well as a devoted husband and father, Payne Stewart tragically passed away in 1999.

The game of golf was the medium Stewart used to affect millions of lives throughout the United States and around the world. In 18 years on the PGA TOUR, Stewart won 11 times, including three major championships, and was a member of five U.S. Ryder Cup teams. Inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2001, Stewart carried himself with a recognizable style and grace on the golf course.

Southern Company and the PGA TOUR continue to honor the memory of Payne Stewart with the Payne Stewart Award, presented annually to a player sharing Stewart's respect for the traditions of the game and his commitment to uphold the game's heritage of charitable support, The recipients also share his professional and meticulous presentation of himself and the sport through his dress and conduct.

In addition to a sculpture presented to the recipient, the Payne Stewart Award is accompanied by an annual Grant presented by Southern Company. The $300,000 grant supports several initiatives in Stewart's name.

Southern Company is proud to carry on Payne Stewart's legacy by sponsoring this award. They too aspire to be not only leaders in their industry, but leaders in their communities as well.

Here is a look back at the history of the Payne Stewart Award:

Honoring seven Stewart traits

A new series focusing on the qualities that connect Payne Stewart to those who have won his award (each week starting Aug. 2).

SPORTSMAN (Week 1) The Payne Stewart statue outside Pinehurst No. 2 tells you all you need to know about the results of that 15-footer. Fist extended, leaning forward on one leg and screaming along with the throngs of fans at the 72nd hole at the 1999 U.S. Open. Fifteen feet for par and for victory. Click for story FASHION (Week 2) Payne Stewart took his father's advice on dressing differently in order to stand out in a crowd, becoming just as famous for his plus-fours as his winning golf. Even Michael Jackson, who knew nothing about the game, knew who the man was with the unusual outfits. Click for story CHARITY (Week 3) Leaving a lasting impression is important to Kenny Perry, just as it was for Payne Stewart. Both knew their charitable giving impacts many more lives than any of their pin-hunting 5-irons or clutch putts. Click for story WINNING (Week 4) Payne Stewart's lifetime scorecard includes many victories on the PGA TOUR, including many major victories. But his pair of U.S. Open Championships will always be first and foremost in the memories of his fans. Click for story FAMILY (Week 5) Payne Stewart's playing career was punctuated by his 1999 U.S. Open win. But the lasting memory was a moment with Phil Mickelson on the 18th green, with Stewart explaining that family is the ultimate gift, one that far exceeds anything on the course. Click for story CHARACTER (Week 6) Most people think of Justin Leonard's 'putt heard round the world' when they recall the 1999 Ryder Cup. Payne Stewart's heroic act on the 18th green isn't often remembered, but it was equally memorable because it showed true character. Click for story AMBASSADOR (Week 7) Payne Stewart was a guy with Hollywood good looks who wore plus fours every week. A guy who didn't give the media just canned quotes. A guy who put his family and God before major victories. He was an ambassador of the game of golf. Click for story

Payne Stewart Award winners

2011: David Toms

Toms, who has won on the PGA TOUR 13 times and played on three Ryder Cup teams, is dedicated to using the game of golf to give back to his community and does so through The David Toms Foundation. Toms' foundation works with at-risk boys and girls by providing them with programs designed to enhance a child's character, self-esteem and career possibilities. Click for story | Watch the video

2010: Tom Lehman

Lehman, a born-again Christian, is dedicated to using the game of golf to give back to his community and those in need. From 1995-2002, Lehman hosted a charity tournament that raised more than $4.7 million for the Childrens Cancer Research Fund in Minnesota. He is also involved with Match Point, which matches adults with troubled children, giving both his money and time. Click for story | Watch the video

2009: Kenny Perry

Perry began playing golf at age 7, and giving back is important to him. Winner of the '02 Charles Bartlett Award, given to a pro golfer for unselfish contributions to the betterment of society, Perry donates five percent of his winnings to a scholarship at Lipscomb University. Click for story | Watch the video

2008: Davis Love III

Beyond his accomplishments on the course is Love's commitment to use his profile to benefit others. To that end, The Davis Love Foundation was established in 2005 to support both national- and community- based programs that focus on children and their families. Click for story | Watch the video

2007: Hal Sutton

Sutton's charitable efforts include creation of the Christus Schumpert Sutton Children's Hospital in his hometown of Shreveport, La., and teaming with Louisianans Kelly Gibson and David Toms to raise more than $2 million in aid to Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita victims. Click for story | Watch the video

2006: Gary Player

While his accomplishments on the course are more than impressive, Player's accomplishments off the course are equally notable. Perhaps one of the most significant is the Gary Player Foundation which helped to build the Blair Atholl Schools in Johannesburg, South Africa and has educational facilities for more than 500 students from kindergarten through the seventh grade and also supports other educational projects throughout the world. Click for story | Watch the video 2005: Brad Faxon Brad Faxon is the epitome of such a relationship-builder, one who works well with and for other people. When taking a look at his impact, it is the relationships that Faxon has formed in a highly individualistic sport that really make him stand out.Click for story | Watch the video 2004: Jay Haas Haas has been a longtime supporter of charities in the Greenville, S.C., area where he resides, raising more than $1 million. After seeing family members battle the effects of diseases such as ALS and Cystic Fibrosis, Haas has enthusiastically supported the ALS Association and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in an effort to find a cure for these devastating diseases. Click for story | Watch the video 2003: Tom Watson Since the late Bruce Edwards, Watson's longtime caddie, was diagnosed with ALS in January 2003, Watson has taken on a highly visible role in helping raise public awareness for the disease through the "Driving 4 Life" fundraising campaign. "Driving 4 Life" is a multimillion-dollar campaign supported by Watson. Click for story | Watch the video 2002: Nick Price Examples of Price's random acts of kindness abound. Matter of fact, it would take a volume of work on the order of the Encyclopedia Britannica to list them all. For instance, Price is a major supporter of the Harare Shelter for Destitutes in his native Zimbabwe, a program for 150 children who have lost parents to AIDS, or whose parents are blind. Click for story | Watch the video 2001: Ben Crenshaw In many ways, understanding Crenshaw is just as easy. Take his nickname, Gentle Ben. It fits as perfectly as a new cabretta glove. Crenshaw is true gentleman and goes about his business while maintaining sportsmanship and integrity.Click for story | Watch the video 2000: Byron Nelson Nelson, a man described most often as being a true gentleman by those who met him, passed away at the age of 94 in September 2006. The humble Texan, who received his intro to the game as a caddie, set PGA TOUR records that seemingly will forever remain unreachable.Click for story | Watch the video 2000: Arnold Palmer More than any player before him, Palmer brought the game of golf to the masses with his go-for-broke style of play. He won four Masters titles in a sequence of alternating years, beginning in 1958. His final-round 65 in the 1960 U.S Open at Cherry Hills cemented his place in the game's lore.Click for story | Watch the video 2000: Jack Nicklaus It was Nicklaus, arguably golf's all-time best, who set golf's gold standard, winning 18 major championships -- three British Opens, four U.S. Opens, five PGA Championships and an unparalleled six Masters -- as a professional, seven more than Walter Hagen.Click for story | Watch the video

Photo Gallery: Payne Stewart Award winners