Used With Permission
David Toms recalled his time as a teenager, when he lived with his grandparents and the world offered many opportunities “to make a lot of bad decisions or good decisions.”
Looking back, Toms believes most of his choices were of the latter variety, but he refuses to take credit.
“(My grandparents) were the ones I thought about before I made any decision,” he said. “I didn’t want to let them down. That carried over to my adult life.”
That’s why today is monumental, yet bittersweet for Toms. His grandfather, and “biggest influence,” Tom Toms, passed away at the age of 88 in December and wasn’t able to be in Atlanta as David Toms was named the winner of the PGA Tour’s Payne Stewart Award.
“This honor is at the top of the list for my career,” said Toms, 44. “I can’t really compare it to anything else.”
The award is presented annually to a player sharing the late Stewart’s respect for the traditions of the game, his commitment to uphold the game’s heritage of charitable support and his professional and meticulous presentation of himself and the sport through his dress and conduct.
Life on Tour has never just been about the 13 victories or the more than $37 million in earnings for the 2001 PGA Champion.
“For years, David Toms has epitomized everything that the Payne Stewart Award represents,” PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem said. “From his professionalism on the golf course to his compassion for others off of it, it is hard to think of a more fitting recipient. His energy and enthusiasm to help others through the David Toms Foundation has made a tremendous difference in the lives disadvantaged youth and those impacted by the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.”
Through his foundation, Toms works with at-risk children by providing programs designed to enhance a child’s character, self-esteem and career possibilities.
Toms was chairman of The David Toms Invitational from 2004-2009, a tournament that raised money for the Big Oak Ranch in Alabama, a non-profit organization for children who have been abused, neglected or orphaned. The David Toms Invitational raised more than $2 million.
Toms honored his Louisiana roots aiding his neighbors in need following Hurricane Katrina. In a partnership with the Katrina Relief Fund, Toms helped raise more than $1.5 million.
The Golf Coaches Association of America created the David Toms Award in 2010 in conjunction with the David Toms Foundation. The award annually honors the men’s collegiate golfer who has overcome adversity to achieve excellence.
Toms is currently working to develop a David Toms Golf Academy, which aims to provide underprivileged youth an opportunity to learn the game of golf and its many values.
The current target for the academy is Bossier City, where Toms hopes construction can begin in 2012.
“This award is so unique – it embodies the whole professionalism of being a pro golfer,” Toms said. “It’s not just about what you do on the golf course. It’s about your life and giving back to your community and being a good role model.”
Toms is in some select company to garner the Tour’s highest off-the-course honor. The Payne Stewart Award began in 2000, one year after Stewart, an 11-time winner on Tour and World Golf Hall of Fame member, died in a place accident during the week of the Tour Championship.
The elite list of honorees includes: Byron Nelson, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Tom Watson.
“I remember the day Tim Finchem called me and told me I’d been selected,” Toms said. I thought about all the times I’ve been to the ceremony. I saw Byron Nelson and Jack Nicklaus. And Jay Haas (2004), he said a lot of nice things. He’s a guy I’ve looked up to.”
Stewart, 10 years Toms’ elder, also served as a mentor. In 1993, the two were paired together in the third round of the Buick Open at Warwick Hills in Michigan.
“It was late in the year and I needed to play well to keep my (PGA Tour) card,” Toms said. “I was in good shape going into Saturday and I was paired with him in one of the final groups. There were people lined three-deep down the first fairway and they announced me and I hit a good shot. Then they announce him and all his victories and the crowd went crazy.
“I about stumbled off the first tee, but he put his arm around me and said, ‘Put on your blinders and just play golf.'”
Toms finished strong, earning a tie for ninth – just the second top-10 finish of his career.
“I secured my card (for 1994) that day,” said Toms, who collected his 100th top-10 finish at the BMW Championship on Sunday. “That day I remember like it happened yesterday. For an established major champion to say something like that, it meant a lot to me and something I’ve used since.”
In addition to Stewart’s competitiveness and professionalism on the golf course, Toms took to another aspect of the three-time major champion.
“When he got away from the golf course, he took his knickers and his gold-tipped shoes off and put on a pair of khakis and no one knew who he was,” Toms said. “He just went about his business at home and doing everything he did with his family – the same thing I’m able to do.”
And family is the reason Toms earned today’s honor.
“I’ve always try to conduct myself in a way my parents and grandparents would want me to conduct myself,” he said. “It’s something I’ve tried to pass on to my children (Carter, 14; Anna, 6).”
Even though Tom Toms isn’t around to enjoy the honor or lead his grandson down the right path any longer, David Toms remains inspired by a “great support group.”
“My father (Buster) has set a great example – he is a wonderful man and has a big heart,” Toms said. “I’ve been very fortunate.
“My wife has seen it all. She’s been driving around on the mini-tours and going to events and just scraping by; and she’s been flying around to major championships, too.
“I’ve done a lot of things right in my career. I’ve had success on the golf course, but we’ve helped people off the golf course. This honor is hard to put into words.”