Peyton Manning wins Ambassador of Golf award

Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning's transition from the gridiron to the greens was recognized Thursday with the Ambassador of Golf Award.

Presented by the PGA's Champions Tour and the Kaulig Companies Championship and benefiting the Northern Ohio Golf Charities Foundation, the award honors a person "who has fostered the ideals of the game on an international level and whose concerns for others extends beyond the golf course."

Manning, 48, served as honorary chairman for the 2023 U.S. Amateur Golf Championship and twice competed in "The Match," pairing with Tiger Woods in May 2020 and with NBA star Stephen Curry in November 2020 to raise funds for pandemic relief and HBCUs, respectively. He also competes each year in the Workday Memorial Pro-Am.

"I'm very honored to receive this award," Manning said. "It's a distinguished list of individuals who have been named Ambassador of Golf and I'm proud to be listed alongside them. Golf has been a part of my sports journey -- from playing with my dad growing up to playing with teammates throughout my career, golf has been important to me. I have great respect for the game and the impact it can have in a community, so this is a tremendous honor."

Manning received the award Thursday in Akron, Ohio.

"Through the game we all love, Peyton Manning, one of the preeminent athletes of his generation and currently one of the most recognized personalities in sports and entertainment, has used his platform to make golf more welcoming to all," PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan said. "These efforts and his values align with everything our sport stands for, and we are thrilled to honor him with the 2024 Ambassador of Golf award."

Manning was a five-time MVP and 14-time Pro Bowl selection who won Super Bowl championships with the Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos. He ranks third all-time in passing yards (71,940) and touchdown passes (539).

Previous recipients of the Ambassador of Golf Award include Curry (2023), former President George W. Bush (2021) and broadcaster Jim Nantz (2018).

--Field Level Media