Payne Stewart Invitational coming to Floridian National Golf Club in December
The Floridian National Golf Club in Palm City will be the home of the inaugural Payne Stewart Invitational.
The event set for Dec. 4 at the Gary Player-designed private course (redesigned by Tom Fazio in 2011) set along the St. Lucie River, will benefit the Payne Stewart Kids Golf Foundation. The event will combine competition and charity in honor of Stewart, the three-time major winner and World Golf Hall of Famer who died in an airplane accident in 1999 at the age of 42.
The tournament hopes to feature recipients of the PGA Tour Payne Stewart Award competing alongside fellow stars from the PGA Tour, PGA Tour Champions, LPGA Tour and celebrity participants.
The Payne Stewart Award is given annually the week of the Tour Championship to a player whose "values align with the character, charity and sportsmanship that Stewart showed." Winners include Justin Rose, Zach Johnson, Boca Raton's Bernhard Langer, Jupiter's Ernie Els, Jupiter Island's Gary Player and North Palm Beach's Jack Nicklaus.
More: The Honda Classic has a new name, but it's only temporary until a title sponsor is signed
The event will pair each team of four amateur players with one professional or celebrity golfer competing in both a low net and low gross score per team per hole format.
"Payne's profound love for people, his unyielding spirit of sportsmanship, and his remarkable achievements in the world of professional golf continue to inspire us all," said Tracey Stewart, Payne's wife. "His commitment to enriching the lives of underprivileged youth through golf provided the vision for this tournament, and we are excited to embark on this new journey to bolster the impact of the Payne Stewart Kids Golf Foundation."
The Payne Stewart Kids Golf Foundation is a non-profit organization that promotes inclusivity and expands the accessibility of age-appropriate golf equipment, training and faith-based learning for young aspiring golfers ages 3-9 nationwide.
"We look forward to putting together a best-in-class event with a profound impact in introducing golf to countless youth who wouldn’t have the opportunity to experience otherwise," said Mike Flaskey, CEO of MF Entertainment, which will produce the event. "We are truly honored and thankful to the Stewart family for granting the Payne Stewart name and brand to this new event … The Payne Stewart Invitational will be a special showcase where professional golfers, top-notch celebrities, and passionate supporters of the game will come together to carry on Payne’s indelible legacy to support a noble cause."
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Payne Stewart Invitational set for December at Floridian National Golf Club
