Full Breakdown
Notah Begay III Honored with the Payne Stewart Award
7/22/2026, 12:08:28 PM
Core Event
Albuquerque-born golfer Notah Begay III, a four-time PGA Tour winner, has been selected as this year’s recipient of the Payne Stewart Award. The honor recognizes his character, sportsmanship and charitable contributions. The award ceremony is scheduled for August in downtown Atlanta, and Begay will return to the Albuquerque metro area for the final day of the Native Youth Golf Championship following the announcement.
Background of the Payne Stewart Award
Created after Payne Stewart’s fatal plane crash in October 1999—the year he won the U.S. Open—the Payne Stewart Award has been presented annually since 2000 to a PGA Tour member who exemplifies the late champion’s values on and off the course. Recipients are judged on character, sportsmanship and commitment to charitable giving.
Begay’s Career and Philanthropy
Begay, the only full-blooded Native American to compete regularly on the PGA Tour, has captured four Tour victories. In 2005 he founded the NB3 Foundation, a nonprofit that addresses health and wellness challenges facing Native American youth and their communities. The foundation’s programs include golf instruction, fitness initiatives and cultural outreach, reflecting Begay’s belief that his platform should uplift the next generation.
Official Statements & Responses
PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp praised Begay’s “meaningful and lasting impact” within Native American communities, noting that the golfer’s work aligns with the award’s emphasis on character, compassion and leadership. Begay himself expressed that receiving an award named for Payne Stewart is “truly special,” adding that golf provides a responsibility to use its platform for service.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Payne Stewart represented the very best of our game, not only in how he competed, but in how he lived his life and gave back to others,” — Extended Reactions Notah Begay
