---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Payne Stewart was a vicious competitor…"
description: "\"Payne Stewart was a vicious competitor. He only played to win, ... Only God can change hearts.\" — Paul Azinger"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f15/paul-azinger-52617_competitor_payne-stewart-was-a-vicious-competitor-h_3218721.jpg"
---

#  Payne Stewart was a vicious competitor. He only played to…

![“Payne Stewart was a vicious competitor. He only played to win, ... Only God can change hearts.” quote by Paul Azinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f15/paul-azinger-52617_competitor_payne-stewart-was-a-vicious-competitor-h_3218721.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f15/paul-azinger-52617_competitor_payne-stewart-was-a-vicious-competitor-h_3218721.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f15/paul-azinger-52617_competitor_payne-stewart-was-a-vicious-competitor-h_3218721.jpg)

> “Payne Stewart was a vicious competitor. He only played to win, ... Only God can change hearts.”

[Paul Azinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-azinger/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

He describes Payne Stewart as fiercely competitive, playing solely to win, implying a ruthless drive.

**In simple terms:** Stewart was extremely competitive, focused only on winning.

Key Takeaway

Recognize the cost of extreme competitiveness.

Themes

competition drive sportsmanship

Mood

intense critical

Type

observational analytical

When to use this quote

- professional golf
- team dynamics
- personal ambition
- leadership challenges

Key Concepts

psychology performance aggression

Questions to Reflect On

- Is winning worth compromising integrity?
- How does extreme drive affect teamwork?

A Different Perspective

Such intensity can damage relationships and ethics.

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[Competitor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competitor/) [Competitor Played](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competitor-played-6042412/) [Competitors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competitors/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Payne Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/payne-stewart-6042411/) [Played Win](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/played-win-1237287/) [Vicious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vicious/) [Vicious Competitor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vicious-competitor-2433619/) [Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning/)

## Related quotes

> [The great champions were always vicious competitors. You never lose respect for a man who is a vicious competitor, and you never hate a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-gonzales/the-great-champions-were-always-vicious-competitors-you-never-lose/)

[Pancho Gonzales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pancho-gonzales/)

> [As a competitor and an athlete, you love that you get to go back and challenge someone, especially the world champs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-romo/as-a-competitor-and-an-athlete-you-love-that-you-get-to-go-back-and/)

[Tony Romo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-romo/)

> [I may not be the most physical player, that's not my nature. But I am a competitor and I play as hard as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pau-gasol/i-may-not-be-the-most-physical-player-that-s-not-my-nature-but-i-am-a/)

[Pau Gasol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pau-gasol/)

> [Obviously, the competitor in you, you want to be in the top three every time in the pool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-beard/obviously-the-competitor-in-you-you-want-to-be-in-the-top-three-every/)

[Amanda Beard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-beard/)

> [Now here I am almost 52 years old, it's really easy. I'm way more at peace. But when you're a competitor, and you're as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-gibson/now-here-i-am-almost-52-years-old-it-s-really-easy-i-m-way-more-at/)

[Kirk Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-gibson/)

> [I simply want to be remembered as a great competitor and a great teammate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-nash/i-simply-want-to-be-remembered-as-a-great-competitor-and-a-great/)

[Steve Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-nash/)

> [You're only as good as your dumbest competitor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-bethune/you-re-only-as-good-as-your-dumbest-competitor/)

[Gordon Bethune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-bethune/)

> [He (Jackie Robinson) was the greatest competitor I've ever seen. I've seen him beat a team with his bat, his ball, his glove, his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duke-snider/he-jackie-robinson-was-the-greatest-competitor-i-ve-ever-seen-i-ve/)

[Duke Snider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duke-snider/)

> [The successful competitor, having been urged to compete, must not be turned upon when he wins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/learned-hand/the-successful-competitor-having-been-urged-to-compete-must-not-be/)

[Learned Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/learned-hand/)

> [I'm a competitor. I really enjoyed the race more than just going out and running to run](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-miller/i-m-a-competitor-i-really-enjoyed-the-race-more-than-just-going-out/)

[Shannon Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-miller/)

> [ \[Clayton Kershaw \] is intense. He's a competitor.He's extremely fun to play behind. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chase-utley/clayton-kershaw-is-intense-he-s-a-competitor-he-s-extremely-fun-to/)

[Chase Utley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chase-utley/)

> [My main competitor is myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeni-plushenko/my-main-competitor-is-myself/)

[Evgeni Plushenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeni-plushenko/)

> [To go into a competition and not strive to win is to be a dishonest competitor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-novak/to-go-into-a-competition-and-not-strive-to-win-is-to-be-a-dishonest/)

[Michael Novak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-novak/)

> [Even in the face of massive competition, don't think about the competition. Literally don't think about them. Every time you're in a meeting and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mccue/even-in-the-face-of-massive-competition-don-t-think-about-the/)

[Mike McCue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mccue/)

> [It's easy to be a tough competitor and still be the kind of person with whom people love to compete.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-thompson/it-s-easy-to-be-a-tough-competitor-and-still-be-the-kind-of-person/)

[Chuck Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-thompson/)

## More by Paul Azinger

> [I don't enjoy playing video golf because there is nothing to throw.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-azinger/i-don-t-enjoy-playing-video-golf-because-there-is-nothing-to-throw/)

[Paul Azinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-azinger/)

> [Staying in the present is the key to any golfer's game: once you start thinking about a shot you just messed up or what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-azinger/staying-in-the-present-is-the-key-to-any-golfer-s-game-once-you-start/)

[Paul Azinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-azinger/)

> [I'm really interested in being a player. I'm not pursuing TV at all. If TV pursues me, that's different. I don't even want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-azinger/i-m-really-interested-in-being-a-player-i-m-not-pursuing-tv-at-all-if/)

[Paul Azinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-azinger/)

> [I didn't even know how to shave at 15.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-azinger/i-didn-t-even-know-how-to-shave-at-15/)

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> [Great champions learn from past experiences, whether those be good or bad. A lot of times a guy needs to be knocked down before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-azinger/great-champions-learn-from-past-experiences-whether-those-be-good-or/)

[Paul Azinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-azinger/)

> [The best players in the world are playing to make history. There are only four tournaments you can win to make history, and TPC…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-azinger/the-best-players-in-the-world-are-playing-to-make-history-there-are/)

[Paul Azinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-azinger/)

[Explore all 7 Paul Azinger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-azinger/)

## More Competitor quotes

> [If you ask another competitor, they may tell you they felt very competitive towards me. But I can tell you that my biggest competition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-kwan/if-you-ask-another-competitor-they-may-tell-you-they-felt-very/)

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> [You're a competitor, you want to win. Especially when you have a great opportunity to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denny-hamlin/you-re-a-competitor-you-want-to-win-especially-when-you-have-a-great/)

[Denny Hamlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denny-hamlin/)

> [I'm always a competitor. I'm not there just to have a good time. I want to play well and perform well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-kuchar/i-m-always-a-competitor-i-m-not-there-just-to-have-a-good-time-i-want/)

[Matt Kuchar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-kuchar/)

> [“View a Copycat as a Stray Cat.. They stray through the day hunting down prey. They pick up a scent through steel or cement.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-addino/view-a-copycat-as-a-stray-cat-they-stray-through-the-day-hunting-down/)

[Victoria Addino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-addino/)

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> [I'm a competitor; I'm in here talking - come at me. If you score on me, I'm gonna tap you on your butt. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-butler/i-m-a-competitor-i-m-in-here-talking-come-at-me-if-you-score-on-me-i/)

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> [Even in the face of massive competition, don't think about the competition. Literally don't think about them. Every time you're in a meeting and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mccue/even-in-the-face-of-massive-competition-don-t-think-about-the/)

[Mike McCue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mccue/)

> [I'm a competitor and work hard every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jalen-brunson/i-m-a-competitor-and-work-hard-every-day/)

[Jalen Brunson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jalen-brunson/)

> [I don't want to be known as just a 'Dance Moms' competitor. I'd really like to be known for all of Sia's work, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maddie-ziegler/i-don-t-want-to-be-known-as-just-a-dance-moms-competitor-i-d-really/)

[Maddie Ziegler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maddie-ziegler/)

> [I'm a competitor. I want the ball when it matters. But I came to Houston because I wanted to play with Chris Paul (a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-tucker/i-m-a-competitor-i-want-the-ball-when-it-matters-but-i-came-to/)

[P. J. Tucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-tucker/)

> [As an athlete, as a competitor, any person would tell you they're the best. I truly believe that in myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-mariota/as-an-athlete-as-a-competitor-any-person-would-tell-you-they-re-the/)

[Marcus Mariota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-mariota/)

> [I'm a competitor and I hate to lose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-larson/i-m-a-competitor-and-i-hate-to-lose/)

[Jordan Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-larson/)

> [I'm a competitor. I try to give everything out there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-schroder/i-m-a-competitor-i-try-to-give-everything-out-there/)

[Dennis Schroder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-schroder/)

> [As a competitor, I want to push myself as much as I can to be at that level that I want to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-horford/as-a-competitor-i-want-to-push-myself-as-much-as-i-can-to-be-at-that/)

[Al Horford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-horford/)

[Browse all 308 Competitor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competitor/)

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