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Atlanta - In recognition of his supreme level of character and sportsmanship, his professionalism and the distinguished manner in which he embraces the values of golf, Bernhard Langer has been named the recipient of the PGA Tour's 2018 Payne Stewart Award.
Langer will be honoured on Tuesday at the Payne Stewart Award Ceremony in conjunction with the TOUR Championship.
The Payne Stewart Award is presented annually by the PGA Tour to a professional golfer who best exemplifies Stewart's steadfast values of character, charity and sportsmanship.
Stewart, an 11-time winner on the PGA Tour and World Golf Hall of Fame member, died tragically the week of the TOUR Championship in 1999.
The past winners have all distinguished themselves through their respect for the game, the Tour's tradition of charity and their ability to make a positive impact in the lives of others.
"We all are so proud of Payne Stewart and the husband and father he was, the player he was and the character he had," said Langer.
"I was very close with Payne for a number of years. Toward the end of his career, he became a believer in Jesus Christ and a Christian, and that was very touching to me because the same thing happened to me a few years earlier, so we had even more in common at that point. To now be receiving the Payne Stewart Award, I feel extremely honoured. I know there are many, many other guys that deserve it as much if not more than me, and I'm thrilled to receive it."
Langer was the inaugural No 1-ranked player in the world when the Official World Golf Ranking was first introduced in 1986 and spent three weeks atop the rankings.
He was a 10-time European Ryder Cup team member and captained the victorious 2004 team.
A two-time Masters champion (1985, 1993), Langer was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2002 as the first German to be honoured.
Langer is the 21st recipient of the Payne Stewart Award, joining a distinguished group of respected golfers including Stewart Cink, who was recognised in 2017, and the inaugural recipients Byron Nelson, Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer (2000).
Other recipients include Jim Furyk (2016), Ernie Els (2015), Sir Nick Faldo (2014), Peter Jacobsen (2013), Steve Stricker (2012), David Toms (2011), Tom Lehman (2010), Kenny Perry (2009), Davis Love III (2008), Hal Sutton (2007), Gary Player (2006), Brad Faxon (2005), Jay Haas (2004), Tom Watson (2003), Nick Price (2002) and Ben Crenshaw (2001).
You truly exemplify character, charity & sportsmanship. Congrats on your recognition, @BernhardLanger6! As a past winner myself, I’m honored to share this award with you. https://t.co/PLA2zTSSZv
— Ernie Els (@TheBig_Easy) August 20, 2018
Congratulations to @BernhardLanger6 on receiving this year’s Payne Stewart Award. I have known Bernhard for many years & he fully embodies the character, charity and sportsmanship it recognizes. Having Bernhard associated with this award will continue to amplify Payne’s legacy GP pic.twitter.com/NlES9ZYM6n
— Gary Player (@garyplayer) August 20, 2018
