ESPN Golf: Notah Begay III Honored with Payne Stewart Award for Community Impact and Leadership

What Is the Payne Stewart Award?

The Payne Stewart Award, established in 2000, stands as one of the most meaningful honors on the PGA Tour — not for on-course performance, but for character, sportsmanship, and charitable commitment. It was created in memory of Payne Stewart, who passed away in a plane crash in October 1999, the same year he claimed the U.S. Open title.

Who Is Notah Begay III?

Notah Begay III is a former PGA Tour player with four career victories and the distinction of being the only full-blooded Native American to have competed on the tour. After his playing days, he founded the NB3 Foundation, an organization dedicated to addressing health and wellness challenges faced by Native American youth and their communities.

Why He Was Chosen

PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp highlighted that Begay has consistently used his platform to create "meaningful and lasting impact" within Native American communities — values that mirror those Payne Stewart embodied throughout his life.

Begay will formally receive the award on August 25 in Atlanta during the Tour Championship.

Strokeslab's Take

In an era where Strokes Gained metrics dominate how we measure golfers, the Payne Stewart Award reminds us that the sport's true legacy is built off the course as much as on it. Begay's recognition is a well-deserved spotlight on the broader human impact elite golfers can have.