[ad_1]
ATLANTA — Huge celebrations occurred Tuesday night time in Atlanta, as former NBC Sports activities commentator and PGA Tour skilled Gary Koch acquired the celebrated Payne Stewart Award for his lifelong dedication to the sport.
From 5:30 to eight:00 p.m., a ceremony was held at East Lake Golf Membership to honor Stewart and Koch. The 2 males have been very shut till the day Stewart died in 1999.
In 2000, the yr after his unlucky airplane accident, the PGA Tour established the Payne Stewart Award to honor a person who shows a excessive degree of character, who by no means fails to exhibit sportsmanship, and who constantly provides again to the neighborhood.
Koch checks all of these containers, as he was shocked by Stewart’s spouse Tracey in July with the award.
Southern Firm, which is headquartered in Atlanta, sponsors this award yearly.
Earlier winners embrace Zach Johnson in 2020, Nick Faldo in 2014, and Byron Nelson, Jack Nicklaus, and Arnold Palmer in 2000—the inaugural yr.
In fact, simply 4 months earlier than his premature dying, Stweart gained the U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2 by one stroke over Phil Mickelson. Considered one of many biggest main championships ever, the 1999 U.S. Open was the final match Stewart gained.
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24867073/1553096.jpg)
He additionally gained the 1989 PGA Championship and 1991 U.S. Open, totaling 11 PGA Tour victories.
Koch, in the meantime, gained six instances on the PGA Tour, along with his final victory coming on the 1988 Panasonic Las Vegas Invitational.
The previous Florida Gator then went on to turn into a golf broadcaster for over thirty years. He was inducted into the Florida Sports activities Corridor of Fame in 2012.
His ‘higher than most’ name for Tiger Woods in the course of the 2001 Gamers Championship is extensively considered one of the crucial well-known strains in golf broadcasting historical past.
Congratulations, Gary, and effectively deserved!
Jack Milko is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Enjoying By means of. You possibly can observe him on Twitter @jack_milko for extra golf protection. Make sure to take a look at @_PlayingThrough too.
[ad_2]
