Sports

Thursday November 3, 2005

Golf: Faxon says award feels like a major

ATLANTA: Brad Faxon received the biggest award of his career on Wednesday without being able to hit a golf shot.

Faxon, recovering from Sept. 13 knee surgery that ended his season, was honored at the Tour Championship with the Payne Stewart Award, given to players who show respect for golf's traditions by the way they handle themselves and their charity work.

Faxon and Billy Andrade run the CVS Charity Classic, a two-day event in Rhode Island that has raised more than $6 million (euro5 million) for children's charities in New England.

"This is like winning a major off the course,'' Faxon said.

Stewart, who died in a plane crash in 1999, four months after winning his second U.S. Open, was one of the most recognizable figures on the U.S. PGA Tour with his knickers and tam o'shanter cap.

"I don't think there can be a greater honor for any golfer, what they can do off the golf course,'' Faxon said.

The American was an eight-time winner on the tour, his last victory coming in August at the Buick Championship in Hartford when he closed with a 61 and won in a playoff.

He had surgery two weeks later to repair torn ligaments in his right knee, an injury he first suffered nearly two years ago.

He endeared himself to the British gallery at St. Andrews this year. Unable to play in a U.S. qualifier for the British Open because he was at his charity event, Faxon flew to Scotland for a 36-hole qualifier that offered only three spots.

He barely got in, then contended on the weekend before closing with a 76 to tie for 23rd.

Previous recipients of the award were Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Byron Nelson in 2000; Ben Crenshaw in 2001; Nick Price in 2002; Tom Watson in 2003; and Jay Haas last year. - AP


Latest sports news from AP-Wire

  • E-mail this story
  • Print this story

Sports Poll