VIDEO: Tom Lehman Wins 2010 Payne Stewart Award

TOM LEHMAN WAS PRESENTED the 2010 Payne Stewart Award on Tuesday at the East Lake Golf Club, site of this week’s Tour Championship. Payne died in a plane crash during the 1999 Tour Championship, which was played in late October at that time.

In the video, Lehman said he was humbled by the award, which is given annually to a player who exemplifies sportsmanship, gives back and honors the tradition of the game. Tom is a good pick.

One of the images I remember is Stewart, Lehman and others celebrating at Brookline after their miraculous comeback in the 1999 Ryder Cup. And, of course, I can still see Payne sinking that 15-foot putt on the final green at Pinehurst No. 2 to win the U.S. Open. He was gone soon after. There are few things I’m certain of, but I’m quite certain Payne would have been a Ryder Cup captain had he not gone down in that plane.

−The Armchair Golfer