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Congratulations, Gary Koch!

“To be honored with this award and to think that people may think of me in the same vein as Payne Stewart is truly unbelievable. When you're recognized by your peers for something you've accomplished and how you treat people, it means a tremendous amount. I would say this is the highlight of my career.”

- Gary Koch, 2023 recipient

Billy Andrade

Driving good energy

In recognition of his character, sportsmanship and commitment to charitable giving, six-time PGA TOUR winner and former NBC Sports golf commentator Gary Koch has been named the 2023 recipient of the PGA TOUR's Payne Stewart Award presented by Southern Company.

Born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and raised in Tampa, Florida, Koch competed collegiately at the University of Florida and delivered an NCAA Championship for the Gators in 1973 before moving on to a successful PGA TOUR career that yielded six tournament titles. After competing on TOUR for 15 years, Koch's playing career transitioned into a broadcasting role with ESPN in 1990 and later NBC Sports in 1997. Koch was a mainstay on PGA TOUR telecasts for NBC, calling the action at many of the game's biggest events, most notably Tiger Woods' iconic putt at the 17th hole at the 2001 PLAYERS Championship, where Koch delivered the famous “Better than Most…” call that still reverberates through the tournament's history.

Koch, 70, and his wife, Donna, stepped in to support the local First Tee - Tampa Bay chapter in 2011 when it was in dire need of financial assistance and on the brink of closure. The Kochs rallied together a group of supporters called the “Friends of First Tee Tampa” to help provide funds to keep the chapter going. Eight years later, First Tee - Tampa Bay was recognized as the largest chapter in the U.S., and annually reaches more than 90,000 youth in the area.

“Through his myriad contributions to the game and his community, Gary has displayed a level of commitment that we at Southern Company truly admire,” said Chris Womack, Southern Company chairman, president and CEO. “His selfless acts of kindness and involvement are apparent across the entire Tampa area. The access he has provided to this great game has inspired countless young people to chase their dreams in golf and in life.”

The Kochs' support of First Tee - Tampa Bay is part of the broader Gary and Donna Koch Family Foundation, which was launched in 2014 to help fund scholarships and student aid in their community. That same year, Koch launched the annual Gary Koch Pro-Am Invitational at Old Memorial Golf Club to support both First Tee - Tampa Bay and ART International Training & Research, with the latter being focused on supporting those who suffer from PTSD and other psychological traumas.

Billy Andrade

From the green to the screen

As a player, Koch burst onto the scene with his unlikely victory in the 1969 Florida Open as a 16-year-old amateur. One year later, he won the 1970 U.S. Junior Amateur at Athens Country Club and later decided to pursue his collegiate career at the University of Florida. Once in Gainesville, Koch became a four-time All-American, won 10 collegiate titles, and helped lead the Gators to victory in the 1973 NCAA Championship (he finished second individually behind 2001 Payne Stewart Award recipient Ben Crenshaw).

His two Walker Cup appearances (1973, 1975) were highlighted by a perfect 3-0-0 record in 1975 at the Old Course at St. Andrews, where he was teammates with 2004 Payne Stewart Award recipient Jay Haas.

Officially joining the PGA TOUR in 1976, Koch collected six career victories in his 15 seasons on TOUR, including the 1984 Bay Hill Classic, which Stewart won three years later.

In 1990, at age 37, Koch began his transition to broadcasting. During his 33 years calling the game’s biggest events for ESPN and NBC Sports, Koch has been involved in many of golf’s most memorable moments, including Woods’ circuitous 2001 PLAYERS Championship putt at TPC Sawgrass.

Two years prior to making that call, as an on-course reporter for NBC during the 1999 Ryder Cup team competition, Koch was assigned to the Singles match between Stewart and Colin Montgomerie. Following the match, which ended with Stewart conceding a long putt to Montgomerie in an act of sportsmanship, Koch spoke to Stewart for what was one of his final live interviews before his passing one month later.

In 2012, Koch was inducted into the Florida Sports Hall of Fame.

Tune in live to the Payne Stewart Award Ceremony on Tuesday, August 22 at 7 p.m. ET on Golf Channel.