Notah Begay III Named Winner of 2026 Payne Stewart Award
By Staff Writer
2 min read
Key takeaways
- Notah Begay III, 53, receives the 2026 Payne Stewart Award at a ceremony held alongside the Tour Championship.
- Golf Channel airs the ceremony as part of a "Golf Central" special from 7-8 p.m. ET Tuesday.
- Begay was the first full-blooded Native American to play on the PGA Tour, winning four times in a 10-month span.
- His Notah Begay III Foundation is marking its 21st anniversary supporting Native American youth health and leadership programs.
- He learned he'd won the award on-set at NBC's U.S. Open broadcast in June, when Payne Stewart's son delivered the news live.
Notah Begay III will receive the 2026 Payne Stewart Award on Tuesday at a ceremony held in conjunction with the Tour Championship at East Lake. The honor recognizes character, charity and sportsmanship, and caps two decades of work through the Notah Begay III Foundation, which supports health, wellness and leadership programs for Native American youth.
Who is Notah Begay III?
Begay, 53, was the first full-blooded Native American to play on the PGA Tour, winning four times in a 10-month stretch before back injuries ended his competitive career. He later became a broadcaster with NBC Sports and Golf Channel. In 2000, he pleaded guilty to driving while intoxicated and served seven days in jail, a period he has said forced him to confront the direction of his life.
What does the Notah Begay III Foundation do?
The foundation, celebrating its 21st anniversary, funds health, wellness, leadership and access programs for Native American children, using golf as one entry point rather than the goal itself. Begay has pointed to Lance Christensen Jr., who grew up on South Dakota's Pine Ridge Lakota reservation and drove 90 minutes to reach the nearest golf course, as an example of the foundation's reach. Begay gave Christensen his only-ever exemption into the NB3 Junior Championship in 2020; Christensen went on to become a Division II All-American.
Begay says he measures his career now in impact rather than victories or rankings.
Begay says he measures his career now in impact rather than victories or rankings. He found out about the award in June, on the set of NBC's U.S. Open coverage at Shinnecock Hills, when Aaron Stewart, son of the award's namesake, presented him with the statue live on air.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Payne Stewart Award?
It is a PGA Tour honor recognizing character, charity and sportsmanship, named for the late major champion Payne Stewart.
When and where is the 2026 Payne Stewart Award ceremony?
Tuesday, Aug. 25, at East Lake in conjunction with the Tour Championship, airing on Golf Channel from 7-8 p.m. ET.
What is the Notah Begay III Foundation?
A nonprofit, now in its 21st year, that funds health, wellness, leadership and golf-access programs for Native American youth.
How many times did Notah Begay III win on the PGA Tour?
He won four PGA Tour events within a 10-month span before injuries ended his playing career.
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- payne stewart award
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