Payne Stewart Award Goes To Ernie Els

Earlier in the week, professional golfer Ernie Els and his wife Liezl opened The Els Center of Excellence in Jupiter, Florida. It’s an educational facility for autistic children and an outgrowth of the Els for Autism Foundation that was established in 2009.

Much of that effort was recognized on Wednesday when Els was named the winner of the Payne Stewart Award, given annually to the PGA Tour player who “best exemplifies Stewart’s steadfast values of character, charity and sportsmanship.” Stewart was killed in a plane crash in 1999 while en route to a tournament.

“I was 28 years old when he got in the plane crash. I was in the air at the same time. I went to see my back specialist here in Georgia,” Els said at East Lake Country Club in Atlanta on Wednesday. “I landed in Orlando and Liezl, my girlfriend at the time and now my wife, was in tears. I was like, ‘What is going on?’ I remember it like yesterday.”

Els, 45, has won four majors and 70 tournaments worldwide. He’s a member of the Hall of Fame. But he may be most proud of what he has done and is doing for autism, especially with the opening of the Center.

“I believe people who want to build these facilities will come and see what it’s all about and build many, many of these facilities around the world. This is needed around the world,” Els said.

Yes. And so are more people like Ernie and Liezl Els.
 
 
Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman .