by ATLANTA — In a game that measures success by standard scorecards, Notah Begay III has long used a different metric: how many doors he can hold open for the next generation.
On Tuesday evening at the Southern Exchange in downtown Atlanta, that lifelong dedication was formally recognized as Begay was honored with the PGA TOUR’s 2026 Payne Stewart Award presented by Southern Company.
The award, established in 2000 following the tragic death of three-time major champion Payne Stewart, is given annually to a golfer who embodies Stewart’s legacy of sportsmanship, character, and charity. For Begay—the 29th recipient of the honor—the moment carried profound personal weight.
“I never thought that I could actually become a Payne Stewart Award recipient [because] people like me don’t win awards like this,” an emotional Begay shared during his acceptance speech.“I come from a community where Native Americans have the shortest lifespan in America.”
A Legacy Built Beyond the Fairways
Begay, 53, is Diné and of the San Felipe and Isleta Pueblos. Before becoming a familiar face and voice as an analyst for NBC Sports and Golf Channel, he made history as the only Native American to play on the PGA TOUR, capturing four TOUR titles between 1999 and 2000 alongside college teammate and lifelong friend Tiger Woods at Stanford.
When severe back injuries altered his playing trajectory, Begay channeled his energy into philanthropic advocacy. In 2005, he founded the Notah Begay III (NB3) Foundation, a Native-led nonprofit focused on combating health disparities and empowering Native American youth.
Through initiatives targeting physical fitness, nutrition, and cultural connection, the NB3 Foundation has directly impacted more than 80,000 Native youth and their families nationwide.
The Impact of the Payne Stewart Grant
Accompanying the honor is a $500,000 grant supported by Southern Company.Begay has designated his portions of the award funding toward two vital causes:
- $200,000 directed to the NB3 Foundation to expand youth wellness and sports programming.
- $100,000 allocated to the Albuquerque Community Foundation, boosting educational and healthcare access in his home state of New Mexico.
The remaining $200,000 supports the Stewart Family Foundation.
During the ceremony, PGA TOUR leaders and peers celebrated Begay not just for what he accomplished inside the ropes, but for the paths he forged outside of them. By turning his platform into a permanent bridge for Indian Country, Begay ensures that the legacy of Payne Stewart continues to light the way for generations to come.
