The Loop
With a heavy heart, Nick Faldo wins Payne Stewart Award for his contributions to the game
Nick Faldo has another honor to add to a resume that includes six major championships, being ranked No. 1 in the world for 98 weeks, entrance into the World Golf Hall of Fame and being knighted by Queen Elizabeth II. Unfortunately, his biggest fan won't be around to see him take it home.
Faldo's father, George, passed away at 88 on Tuesday, just about an hour before Nick was officially announced as the winner of the 2014 Payne Stewart Award, according to PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem.
Because of his father's death in England, Faldo wasn't on hand to receive the award. "Thanks, Dad, for everything. We took the most amazing journey together," Faldo said in a statement.
Faldo was recognized by the PGA Tour in large part for his creation of the Faldo Series, a youth golf program that's been giving kids opportunities to play golf and compete and has helped the careers of notable players such as Rory McIlroy and Yani Tseng.
Faldo presents McIlroy a Faldo Series trophy for winning the Under-17 division in 2006.
"Obviously, this award means a tremendous amount to me and the Faldo Series," Faldo said in an interview with PGATour.com. "We're 18 years into our series now in what I would call pay forward, pay back, go golf. So what we've done I'm very proud of."
The Payne Stewart Award has been given annually the week of the PGA Tour's Tour Championship to "a player whose values align with the character, charity and sportsmanship that Payne showed." Faldo joins a list of winners that includes Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson, Nick Price and Gary Player.