How it works: Ryder Cup format

ATLANTA – In recognition of his supreme level of character and sportsmanship, his professionalism and the distinguished manner in which he embraces the values of golf, Bernhard Langer has been named the recipient of the PGA TOUR’s 2018 Payne Stewart Award presented by Southern Company. Langer will be honored on Tuesday, September 18, 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 Centralâ€� special from 7-8 p.m. ET. The 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 the week of the TOUR Championship in 1999. Southern Company, the “Official Energy Company of the PGA TOUR and PGA TOUR Champions,â€� was the TOUR Championship sponsor the year of Stewart’s passing. A year later, the PGA TOUR created the Payne Stewart Award in his honor, and Southern Company has supported the annual presentation since its inception. The past winners 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. “We all are so proud of Payne Stewart and the husband and father he was, the player he was and the character he had,â€� said Langer.  “I was very close with Payne for a number of years. Toward the end of his career, he became a believer in Jesus Christ and a Christian, and that was very touching to me because the same thing happened to me a few years earlier, so we had even more in common at that point. To now be receiving the Payne Stewart Award, I feel extremely honored. I know there are many, many other guys that deserve it as much if not more than me, and I’m thrilled to receive it.â€� Langer turned professional in 1972 at the age of 15 and joined the European Tour shortly thereafter, in 1976. He became a PGA TOUR member for four seasons beginning in 1985 and rejoined the TOUR in 2001. Originally from Munich, Germany, Langer and his wife Vikki currently reside in Boca Raton, Florida, and have four children: Jackie, Stefan, Christina and Jason. “Bernhard Langer epitomizes the ideals around which the Payne Stewart Award is built – character, charity and sportsmanship,â€� said PGA TOUR commissioner Jay Monahan. “Fueled by his strong faith and steadfast humility, Bernhard has become one of the great ambassadors for this game and continues to set an admirable example every time he tees it up on the PGA TOUR Champions. “On the course, there has been no one more consistent or resilient over a longer period of time than Bernhard. He’s won all over the world and continues to lift trophies on a regular basis on PGA TOUR Champions. I’m still not so sure Father Time will ever catch him.â€� Charitable Commitment In addition to a sculpture by Bob Pack presented to the recipient, the Payne Stewart Award is accompanied by an annual Payne Stewart Award Grant made possible by Southern Company. The $500,000 grant supports several initiatives in Stewart’s name and is distributed as follows: $100,000 to Payne and Tracey Stewart’s primary charity, The Stewart Family Foundation; $100,000 in Stewart’s honor to The First Tee of the Ozarks located in Missouri at Kids Across America, which is affiliated with Kanakuk Kamps; and $300,000 to a charity designated by the winner. Langer has chosen to designate the Bernhard Langer Foundation, which will distribute funds to several charitable organizations that focus on providing aid to children, orphans and widows in South Florida. His charitable impact also stretches beyond the borders of the United States to his native Germany, where donations help needy families and children. A devout Christian, Langer organizes an annual charity event called “Youth for Christâ€� that raises money to help introduce Christianity to children. Other charitable organizations that Langer supports include National House of Hope Inc., Search Ministries Inc., Sheridan House Family Ministries and 4 Kids of South Florida. In addition, Langer frequently speaks at Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) functions in PGA TOUR Champions host cities and was one of the original founders and the guiding force behind the European Tour’s weekly Bible study class. During his day-to-day life on PGA TOUR Champions, Langer is a model for what the Tour strives to accomplish in providing fans with accessibility and personal interactions with the legends of the game. Langer was honored for his contributions to the game in 2006 with his appointment as honorary Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, which was originally created by King George V during World War I to reward services to the war effort by civilians, but is now given to those who make significant contributions in their own areas of activity. “The Payne Stewart Award celebrates the attributes that make our communities great – charity, sportsmanship and character,â€� said Southern Company Chairman, President and CEO Tom Fanning. “Southern Company is proud to recognize Bernhard, a fierce competitor, teacher and advocate for children who personifies these worthy aspirations. We extend our sincere congratulations to Bernhard, one of the most successful and revered golfers in the world.â€� A Legendary Career Langer has enjoyed nothing short of a legendary career on the golf course ever since he was first introduced to the game at 8 years old, following in his brother’s footsteps to become a caddie at the Augsburg Golf Club in Germany. Since turning professional in 1972, Langer has collected over 100 worldwide wins and is one of five players to win tournaments on six continents, joining Gary Player, David Graham, Hale Irwin and Justin Rose. Langer was the inaugural No. 1-ranked player in the world when the Official World Golf Ranking was first introduced in 1986 and spent three weeks atop the rankings. He was a 10-time European Ryder Cup team member and captained the victorious 2004 team. A two-time Masters champion (1985, 1993), Langer was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2002 as the first German to be honored. When he officially joined PGA TOUR Champions after turning 50 in 2007, Langer quickly became a dominant force, winning four times over his first two seasons. Now in his 12th season, Langer owns 37 PGA TOUR Champions titles, which lists him second all time. He’s earned seven Player of the Year Awards and a record four Charles Schwab Cups as the season-long champion, including three in a row from 2014-16. Langer has also received several honors in his native Germany, including the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Silver Laurel Leaf, which is their highest sport award. He was also inducted into the Germany Sports Hall of Fame in 2016. Langer is the 21st recipient of the Payne Stewart Award, joining a distinguished group of respected golfers including Stewart Cink, who was recognized in 2017, and the inaugural recipients Byron Nelson, Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer (2000). Other recipients include Jim Furyk (2016), Ernie Els (2015), Sir Nick 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).

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Trying to read the Tiger tea leaves

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THE OVERVIEW Bryson DeChambeau was one of about 50 players – amateurs and pros — sending letters to the John Deere Classic office in hopes of seeking a sponsor’s exemption back in 2015. Then a junior at SMU, DeChambeau continued the correspondence with emails to tournament director Clair Peterson, who was so impressed by the writing that he re-read the emails out loud during board meetings. “So well-thought out, so respectful, thoroughly explained what his round was like that day or what the tournament was like, explain the kinds of things he was going to need to work on to get better,â€� Peterson said. “Oh, by the way, I would really appreciate a spot in the John Deere Classic. It would mean that much to me. And it was so sincere.â€� After DeChambeau won the individual NCAA Championship in early June, it was fairly evident that the tournament would extend the invite. “You still don’t know,â€� DeChambeau recalled. “I mean, there’s definitely other options that people can make.â€� But once he got the call … “It meant the world to me,â€� DeChambeau said. “It meant everything to me because this is where I wanted to be. I wanted to be out here.â€� Two years later, DeChambeau rewarded the faith that Peterson and the John Deere team had in him, winning his first PGA TOUR title.  It’s not an uncommon occurrence for former sponsor’s exemptions to win at TPC Deere Run. Zach Johnson (2002-03) and Jordan Spieth (2012) are, like DeChambeau, former invites turned John Deere champions. Johnson won in 2012 and currently has a streak of 37 consecutive rounds of par or better. Spieth won the John Deere in 2013 and 2015. “I love coming back to a tournament that means so much to me, a tournament that gave me some nice fresh starts when I didn’t necessarily earn them,â€� said Johnson, who is now part of the tournament board. “I had sponsor exemptions and wasn’t on TOUR yet, so now being, you know, a small piece of the puzzle here with the tournament staff, with Clair and his people, it’s special.â€� The tournament has a knack for identifying young players who go on to big things, such as Matt Kuchar (2001), Jason Day (2008 in his pro debut), Webb Simpson (2008), Patrick Reed (2012, same year as Spieth), Justin Thomas (2013), DeChambeau and Joh Rahm (2016). That same year as Rahm, Aaron Wise also received an invite; this season, he’s a leading Rookie of the Year contender after winning the AT&T Byron Nelson in May. “We think we’ve got a pretty good track record over the years of introducing our fans to young athletes that they are going to enjoy watching now, and hopefully enjoy watching accomplish great things over the course of their careers,â€� Peterson told the Quad Cities Times newspaper. “I think they represent what we try to do, and do historically, to develop relationships with players we feel are really good people and will represent us well. They are athletes of significance. You look at what some of them have accomplished already and had success on TOUR and will be there for a long time. We hope the long-term relationships bring them back to the John Deere Classic often.â€� Among this year’s sponsor’s invites are Doug Ghim, Nick Hardy, Dylan Meyer and Norman Xiong, each of whom recently turned pro. “Incredibly special,â€� said Ghim, who grew up in the Chicago area. “It’s a blessing to be able to have these opportunities on the PGA TOUR, the grandest stage. And to have it so early in my career close to home means a lot to me.â€� Broc Everett, meanwhile, is making his TOUR debut this week just weeks after taking NCAA individual medalist honors for Augusta University. It didn’t take long for Peterson to offer him a spot in the field. “I didn’t even realize it would be on the table that quickly, but he reached out really quickly and I’m really thankful he got me into the event so fast,â€� said Everett, an Iowa native who’ll play in front of his home fans. “I think I was the last sponsor’s exemption. So it’s very really cool.â€� The young players are realistic about their chances this week; Ghim and Hardy both said they are just hoping to get into a contending position on the weekend. Just one player has won the year of his sponsor’s invite at TPC Deere Run – David Gossett in 2001. But as Johnson, Spieth and DeChambeau have shown, getting an early look and feel for the course can pay dividends in future years. DeChambeau is reminded of it at his home when he sees the distinctive John Deere Classic trophy. “Right in my room on my mantel,â€� DeChambeau said. “I wake up every morning and I see it right in front of me.â€� THREE PLAYERS TO PONDER Steve Stricker If he has another PGA TOUR win in him, you’ve got to figure it’ll be at TPC Deere Run, where he’s won three times. Zach Johnson His game is trending up, and he’s always steady in his “fifthâ€� major. Bryson DeChambeau Ranks sixth in the FedExCup standings – doubt it’s all because of the compass. THE FLYOVER The 476-yard par-4 18th has been one of the more difficult closing holes on the PGA TOUR in recent years. It ranked as the eighth hardest last season, playing to a stroke average of 4.197, and was inside the toughest top 20 the previous three years. “It is a hard hole,â€� said Steve Stricker. “It’s an awkward tee ball. You know, if you hit it through the fairway on the left you’re in that bunker. If you try to cut the corner a little bit you can hit those overhanging oak trees on the corner and the ball knocks down to some thick rough.â€� Here’s a flyover of the hole. LANDING ZONE The par-4 14th is short enough to tempt players to try driving the green; in fact, when the tee box was moved up last year in the third round to 313 yards, nearly 85 percent of the field that day tried to drive the green. It was the easiest hole on the back nine a year ago, playing to a stroke average of 3.602. Here’s a look at where all tee shots landed in 2017. WEATHER CHECK From PGA TOUR meteorologist Brad Nelson: “Hot and humid conditions will build across the Quad Cities area through the week, with high temperatures heating up into the lower 90s Thursday and Friday. The weather becomes more active later in the week. Isolated thunderstorms will be possible on Friday, but currently thinking most of this activity holds off until Friday night. Scattered thunderstorms will be possible over the weekend as a frontal boundary drops south and stalls near the area. Winds pick up to 10-16 mph for the first round on Thursday, dropping Friday and Saturday, and increase again by Sunday.â€� For the latest weather news from Silvis, Illinois, check out PGATOUR.COM’s Weather Hub. SOUND CHECK Humbled beyond words.It’s a work in progress. BY THE NUMBERS 31,847 – Total birdies made at TPC Deere Run from 2000-17. That’s the most of any course on the PGA TOUR in that span. 4,084 – Total birdies made at the par-5 second hole, the most of any hole on the course in that same span. 27 – Birdies made by Wesley Bryan in 2017, most of any player in the field that week. SCATTERSHOTS Steve Stricker, a former University of Illinois standout, on Nick Hardy and Dylan Meyer, two recent Illini stars-turned-pro who are also in the field this week: “Two different games, two different personalities, but both very good players.â€� After winning his first TOUR event at the Quicken Loans National two weeks ago, Francesco Molinari returned to his London home because it was his son’s final week of the school year. He spent the rest of the week relaxing before returning to the U.S. to prepare for his first John Deere start. He’ll return to the UK for next week’s Open Championship – and given his current form, you can’t discount his chances. “I feel this time of the season obviously we play a lot,â€� Molinari said. “There is not a need to do a lot of work. It’s more about the quality of what you do. I feel prepared and ready to go this week.â€� Joaquin Niemann is making his first start since sealing his TOUR membership for next season with a T-5 finish on Sunday at the Greenbrier. “I think I still haven’t figured out what I have done,â€� said the 19-year-old from Chile. “But, yeah, I mean, it’s like a dream come true being out here playing on the PGA TOUR. It’s a dream.â€�

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