Notah Begay III returns to Albuquerque after PGA Tour award

Albuquerque native Notah Begay III will be back in the metro for the final day of the Native Youth Golf Championship after the PGA Tour named him the recipient of the Payne Stewart Award. The appearance brings a four-time PGA Tour winner back in front of the youth golfers, Native families and local supporters who have followed his career from Albuquerque to the national stage.

The PGA Tour announced Begay as the 29th Payne Stewart Award recipient, a distinction presented by Southern Company that recognizes character, sportsmanship and commitment to charitable giving. Begay is also the founder of the NB3 Foundation, a national, award-winning Native-led nonprofit, which gives the honor added weight for Bernalillo County readers watching local youth programs and Native mentorship efforts.

Albuquerque Academy said Begay, 53, will be honored Tuesday, Aug. 25, at the Payne Stewart Award Ceremony in conjunction with the 2026 TOUR Championship. Golf Channel will televise the ceremony, placing an Albuquerque name into one of the tour’s most visible annual recognition events just weeks after the hometown visit.

KRQE reported that Begay said he was in complete shock when he learned he had won the award and that he grew up "in and on the reservations here in New Mexico." That connection is part of why his return carries more than celebrity value in Albuquerque. Begay is not just a visiting pro with four PGA Tour wins on his résumé; he is a homegrown figure whose career has long resonated with Native youth golfers, school teams and families across the metro.