Professional golfer Stewart Cink was named the recipient of the 2017 Payne Stewart Award.
An alumnus of Georgia Tech who joined the PGA Tour in 1997, Cink was named the recipient of the 2017 award because of how he upholds the values of the game of golf, his professionalism and his dedication to philanthropy and improving the lives of others.
The award was created in honor of Stewart, an 11-time PGA Tour Winner and World Gold Hall of Fame member, who died in a plane crash before the 1999 TOUR Championship. One year later, the PGA Tour and Southern Company created the annual Payne Stewart Award to present to the professional golfer who best embodies Stewart’s values of character, generosity and sportsmanship.
“To receive the Payne Stewart Award is one of the greatest honors of my career,” Cink said in a statement. “Payne Stewart was a player and person whom I admired greatly, both on and off the course. His character, his infectious spirit and his dedication to growing the game were all traits that I have always aspired to emulate. I am thankful the PGA TOUR and Southern Company have found a way through this award to honor and remember Payne’s legacy.”
As the 20th recipient of the award, Cink joins past award winners Jim Furyk (2016), Ernie Els (2015), Sir Nick Faldo (2014) and inaugural recipients Byron Nelson, Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer (2000).
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