Tom Lehman Wins Payne Stewart Award, Reflects on the Award's Namesake

Filed under: PGAATLANTA -- Over a 30-year professional career, Tom Lehman won a British Open. He played on three Ryder Cup teams and captained another. He was the 1996 PGA Tour Player of the Year. He won this year's Senior PGA Championship.

Those accomplishments, however, did not prepare him for Thursday's victory.

Lehman, known for his benevolence and honor, was presented with the Payne Stewart award, presented annually to a player sharing the late golfer's respect for the traditions of the game, his commitment to upholding the sport's heritage of charitable support and his professional and meticulous presentation of himself and the sport through his dress and conduct.

"You know, winning a golf tournament is one thing," Lehman said. "You work and practice and you prepare and you go out and you give your very best, and hopefully, you're the best this week and you get the trophy.

"An award like this, I'm not really sure how to take quite frankly, just because there's so many conflicting emotions.

"When I was told I was going to receive this award, I started thinking about my years knowing Payne Stewart. I think the overriding feeling is I really wish that this award wasn't being given out for another 30 years."

Stewart, the flashy dresser with a classic swing and three major championships, died in a 1999 private plane crash three days before he was to compete in the Tour Championship. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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