Davis Love III honored with Payne Stewart Award

Sea Island resident Davis Love III has a new trophy to put in his home.

Love was Tuesday named recipient of the Payne Stewart Award, an honor given each year to a player who reflects the late Stewart’s respect for the traditions of the game, commitment to charitable support, and professional presentation of him through dress and conduct.

“I have a Players Championship trophy and a Wannamaker Trophy [for the PGA Championship], and this will be the third that I keep in my house, for sure,” Love said. “Sea Island [Golf Club] has a lot of my trophies in a nice trophy room. I’ve held a couple of them back, and this will be one that I hold back for sure.”

Love has been one of the game’s most popular players since he became a professional in 1986. He has represented the United States on six Ryder Cup and six Presidents Cup teams and is considered a slam-dunk choice to serve as a Ryder Cup captain when his career is finished. Love has won 19 tournaments, including the 1997 PGA Championship, his only major title.

“[Stewart] stood for what was great about the game,” Love said. “He played it with passion, and he carried on traditions and a lot of the things that the next generation beyond me and generations after that need to appreciate.”

Champions Tour decision pending

There’s still no word on the new Champions Tour that will be part of the 2009 schedule. Commissioner Tim Finchem said Tuesday that officials are working through a couple of potential scenarios, but should have final word soon.

“It is still our intention to go forward to that event, but we have not completed the sponsorship arrangements,” Finchem said. “We are looking at at least two different scenarios to bring that event forward. It is still our intention to do so and have more say about that over the next couple of weeks.”

Cousins plays role in Tour field

Turns out there was a secret weapon in getting all 30 of the players who had qualified to come play in this week’s Tour Championship: Tom Cousins, the Atlanta developer who restored East Lake Golf Club and redeveloped the East Lake community.

Rob Johnston, the tournament’s general chairman, said Cousins personally called each of the players and asked them to play.

They’re all here, which is quite a feat since a third of the field participated in last week’s emotionally draining Ryder Cup matches.

Cink, Haney conduct First Tee clinic

About 50 children from the First Tee of East Lake attended a clinic hosted by Duluth’s Stewart Cink and master teacher Hank Haney, the instructor of Tiger Woods. Cink and Haney answered questions from the crowd and then helped the boys and girls compete in a putting contest.

FedEx presented a check for $50,000 to the First Tee, with $5,000 of that going to the East Lake chapter. The Tour Championship gave each child two tickets for Saturday’s round.