PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – Drake alum Zach Johnson has been named the recipient of the PGA TOUR's Payne Stewart Award presented by Southern Company, the PGA announced Wednesday, Aug. 12. Johnson will be honored on Wednesday, Sept. 2, at the Payne Stewart Award Ceremony in conjunction with the TOUR Championship. The ceremony will be televised live on Golf Channel as part of a "Golf Central" special from 6-6:30 p.m. EST at the Southern Exchange in downtown Atlanta.
 
The prestigious Payne Stewart Award is presented annually by the PGA TOUR to a professional golfer who best exemplifies Stewart's steadfast values of character, charity and sportsmanship. Stewart, an 11-time winner on the PGA TOUR and World Golf Hall of Fame member, died tragically 21 years ago during the week of the TOUR Championship in 1999.
 
Johnson, a 1998 graduate, led Drake men's golf to three NCAA regional meets and two Missouri Valley Conference championships. He has been a mainstay in the professional ranks since first joining the PGA TOUR in 2004 after finishing as the leading money winner on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2003. Now a 12-time PGA TOUR winner, Johnson's career is highlighted by victories at the 2007 Masters and 2015 Open Championship at St. Andrews. He became only the sixth golfer to win majors at Augusta and St. Andrews, the others being Sam Snead, Jack Nicklaus, Sir Nick Faldo, Seve Ballesteros, and Tiger Woods.
 
In 2010, Zach and his wife, Kim established the Zach Johnson Foundation, which fulfills a dream of theirs to give back to children and families in Cedar Rapids, Iowa in a long-lasting and meaningful way. One year later, they introduced the Zach Johnson Foundation Classic, which was created as a two-part event: a fundraiser gala and auction for sponsors and participants and a Pro-Am charity golf tournament. In 2019, it raised $1.1 million to support their non-profit, Kids on Course, which serves 1,000+ students with the goal of closing the opportunity gap so all students can be on a path for post-secondary education. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Foundation has adapted to continue reaching those most in need. Following the cancellation of the 2020 Zach Johnson Foundation Classic, a virtual gala was held on June 6, which raised more than $180,000.
 
Johnson has given back to Drake University with several initiatives benefiting the Drake men's and women's golf programs, including the Zach Johnson Golf Room features a new Southwest Greens putting surface, LED lighting and graphics by FASTSIGNS inside the Drake Fieldhouse. In addition, the men's team hosts the Zach Johnson Invitational each fall and Johnson provided a generous donation for a new team van for both programs to use for travel.
 
Past winners of the Payne Stewart Award have all distinguished themselves through their respect for the game, the TOUR's tradition of charity and their ability to make a positive impact in the lives of others. Johnson, the 23^rd recipient of the award, a distinguished group of respected golfers including Hale Irwin, who was recognized in 2019, and the inaugural recipients Byron Nelson, Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer (2000). Other recipients include Bernhard Langer (2018), Stewart Cink (2017), Jim Furyk (2016), Ernie Els (2015), Faldo (2014), Peter Jacobsen (2013), Steve Stricker (2012), David Toms (2011), Tom Lehman (2010), Kenny Perry (2009), Davis Love III (2008), Hal Sutton (2007), Gary Player (2006), Brad Faxon (2005), Jay Haas (2004), Tom Watson (2003), Nick Price (2002) and Ben Crenshaw (2001).