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Jim Furyk, fresh off a PGA record round of 58, was named winner of the Payne Stewart Award on Tuesday. The honor is annually awarded to the golfer who "best exemplifies the values of character, charity and sportsmanship." Stewart died in 1999 in a plane mishap.
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"To win an award that has his name on it and to look at the recipients below me is an honor," said Furyk, "and it's humbling to be here to accept it."
Being named as recipient of the award comes two days after Furyk's record-setting round at the Travelers Championship. He had 10 birdies, one eagle and no bogeys during the round to become the only player in PGA history to break 60 on two occasions.
The timing of the announcement had nothing to do with Furyk's immortal performance, according to PGA commissioner Tim Finchem.
"He will be receiving this award in Atlanta during the TOUR Championship and as I recognize him, I want to congratulate him on his career both on and off the golf course," Finchem said. "He has been a superb, consistent player. If he stopped playing right now he would be closing with the lowest score ever shot on the PGA Tour, 58 this weekend.
"I want to point out that this decision on his recognition of the Payne Stewart Award was made prior to him shooting 58."
Furyk will receive the award on Sept. 20.
The 46-year-old Furyk had a late start to the season due to a wrist injury that prevented him from playing in the Masters. He returned to Tour play in May and later tied for sixth at the U.S. Open.
His season was made at the Travelers, in which he was far off the pace entering the final round but became the talk of the golf world with the amazing 58.
"The 59 (in the 2013 BMW Championship) was a great accomplishment," Furyk said. "I'm a little flabbergasted that I had the opportunity to break 60 again and was able to do so and to do it with a 58, it's amazing.
"I guess I look at it is it's one day versus a career, but it's also one day that no one else on the PGA Tour has ever done. So it's a wonderful accomplishment and I'm still kind of pinching myself that I'm going to have to wake up and still play that Sunday round -- because a lot of it has been a blur."
