ATLANTA, September 20, 2011 (AFP) - American David Toms, the 2001 PGA Championship winner, was named Tuesday as the winner of the 2011 Payne Stewart Award presented annually by the US PGA Tour for off-the-course efforts.
Toms, competing in the season-ending Tour Championship starting Thursday, helped rebuilding efforts after Hurricane Katrina struck his native Louisiana. His foundation has worked for nearly a decade to help needy youth.
"This is one of the best honors in golf and I am truly grateful to be the recipient," Toms said. "The fact that this recognizes so many different attributes is very humbling."
Stewart, who died in 1999, was devoted to charity efforts and love of golf traditions. The award began the following year with recipients having included Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Byron Nelson, Tom Watson, Gary Player and Nick Price.
"For years, David Toms has epitomized everything that the Payne Stewart Award represents," PGA commissioner Tim Finchem said.
"From his professionalism on the golf course to his compassion for others off of it, it is hard to think of a more fitting recipient."