The PGA Tour and Southern Company announced Tuesday that Brandt Snedeker is the 2024 Payne Stewart Award winner.
He thought the producers wanted to discuss the Brandt Snedeker Foundation, but it turned out to be an emotional moment for the PGA Tour veteran.
The producers off-screen asked him about his foundation, and Snedeker began to answer, but his wife Mandy quickly interrupted, telling him he had a call he could not miss.
Little did he know, his wife was in on the surprise.
Tracy Stewart, Payne’s wife, FaceTimed him to deliver the news.
“Oh my gosh, you have no idea how special this is to me,” Snedeker said as he attempted to hold back tears. “I was obviously a huge Payne Stewart fan growing up, but my family’s all from Springfield, Missouri, his hometown, and he was my favorite golfer. To have my name on this trophy is really special. You have no idea.”
He and Stewart continued their discussion, and she eventually told him that he would receive a $300,000 grant from the Southern Company to donate to a charity.
She said, “The charitable impact that you and Mandy have made to so many young people in Tennessee is really inspiring. I have no doubt that it’ll be put to good use.”
Snedeker became more emotional, and it became clear how much this honor meant to him. As hard as he tried to hold back the tears, his emotions were too high.
“Thank you so much. You have no idea what Payne did for me as a junior golfer,” he said, rubbing his head and choking up. “I grew up idolizing him.”
Snedeker said his only regret was not meeting Payne Stewart before he died. However, growing up in Springfield, Missouri, he was destined to be a fan of the major champion who left a mark on the golf world for his iconic fashion and charm.
By being this year’s recipient, the long-time PGA Tour player achieved a goal he set for himself when he became a professional golfer.
“This award means that not only are you a pretty good player, but you’re a pretty good person, too,” Snedeker noted. “It’s rare in life you achieve a goal that’s so monumental, so that’s why I am involved in the Korn Ferry Tour. I love seeing those guys get the card for the first time because those guys are living their dream. Their dream came true. This is one of my dreams, and it just came true.”
Snedeker will tee it up this week at the Wyndham Championship. He is a two-time winner of this event, in 2007 and 2018. He opened that 2018 title run with a first-round 59. The 43-year-old has almost 20 years of experience on the PGA Tour and has made 433 starts, earning nine wins and the 2012 FedEx Cup title.
Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. For more golf coverage, follow us @_PlayingThrough on all major social platforms. You can also follow her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @golf_girl_sl.
