Paul Azinger, a 12-time PGA Tour winner and former Ryder Cup captain, has been named the 2025 recipient of the prestigious Payne Stewart Award, presented by Southern Company.
Announced on July 21, 2025, the PGA Tour award recognizes Azinger’s character, sportsmanship, and commitment to charity, qualities that mirrored those of his close friend, the late Payne Stewart.
“To be named the recipient of this award, representing my dearest friend, is one of the proudest moments of my life,” Azinger said. “Payne set the standard for how to represent the game of golf.”
Azinger, 65, who won the 1993 PGA Championship and led the U.S. to a 2008 Ryder Cup victory, has made significant charitable contributions through the Azinger Family Compassion Center in Manatee County, Florida. The center, opened in 2021, supports vulnerable families with resources like food, clothing, and counseling, distributing nearly $19 million in aid last year.
“It’s probably one of the proudest moments of my life.”
In a special surprise, @PaulAzinger and his wife Toni learn that he's been named the 2025 Payne Stewart Award recipient presented by @SouthernCompany. pic.twitter.com/OD9wPZsVE9
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) July 21, 2025
The award, established in 2000 after Stewart’s tragic death in 1999, includes a $500,000 grant, with $300,000 directed to the Azinger Family Compassion Center and $200,000 to Stewart-related charities.
PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan praised Azinger, saying, “His values align with the character and charitable pursuits that Payne displayed.”
Azinger will be honored at a ceremony on August 19, 2025, during the Tour Championship in Atlanta, televised on Golf Channel.
