Atlanta, GA – Steve Stricker won the 2012 Payne Stewart Award, the PGA Tour announced on Tuesday.
The Payne Stewart Award honors a player for sharing Stewart's respect for the traditions of the game, his commitment to uphold the game's heritage of charitable support and his professional and meticulous presentation of himself and the sport through his dress and conduct.
"This award means a great deal to the players on the PGA Tour, and I am truly grateful to be the recipient of the Payne Stewart Award," said Stricker. "I take great pride in being recognized for the values that the Payne Stewart Award stands for. I was fortunate enough to spend time with and compete against Payne, and I watched how he handled himself on the course, with his fellow competitors, with the fans and volunteers. I hope that by leading by example, just as Payne did, that our younger players will follow in the traditions of sportsmanship, integrity and charitable efforts that he helped bring to our sport."
Stricker, who is heavily involved in several charities, will receive the award Tuesday night in a private ceremony that is part of this week's Tour Championship celebrations.
Stricker, 45, is the only player in tour history to win the Comeback Player of the Year award in consecutive years. In 2006, after inconsistent play, Stricker lost his card, but played well enough in events he got in through sponsors' exemptions to earn privileges for 2007.
That year, after hours hitting balls in his native Madison, Wis., Stricker posted a win at The Barclays and two runner-ups.
Stricker has 12 PGA Tour titles, including nine since turning 40, and will be in the field this week at East Lake. He just made his third U.S. Ryder Cup team after he was tabbed by captain Davis Love III.
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