THE PGA TOUR AND SOUTHERN COMPANY today announced that four-time major champion Ernie Els will be the recipient of the 2015 Payne Stewart Award. The annual award is given to a professional golfer who exemplifies Stewart's values of character, charity and sportsmanship. Stewart died tragically in a plane accident during the week of the 1999 Tour Championship.
Els will receive the award on Tuesday, September 22, at the Tour Championship in Atlanta, Georgia. The ceremony will air on Golf Channel during its 7-8 p.m. programming.
"I have so many fond memories of Payne and always had the greatest respect for him as a golfer and as a person," Els said in a statement, "and I think this award is a wonderful way to honor his memory and the values that he stood for.