2009---Do you remember 10 years ago--Payne?

[PEZGolf]

It is hard to believe that it has been 10 years since the following happened with Payne Stewart:

1. He won the AT&T; ( I still call it the "Bing Crosby"). It was shortened to three rounds as Sunday's was cancelled due to bad, bad, "Crosby weather", and as third round leader, Payne was declared the winner and received the check for first place. He had lost to Greg Norman a few years before in The Memorial, so he said that it is "kind of justice, really". His shot in the third round, where he knocked it stiff in the wind and rain really won the tournament for him. This victory was his first since the playoff win over Scott Hoch at the Houston Open in 1995---a really long "dry spell" for Payne. It was also significant for another reason---see the section on the Ryder Cup.

2. Of course, as most of us remember so well, he edged Phil Mickelson in the United States Open at Pinehurst #2 (the first US Open ever held at that legendary course). This was Payne's third Major (after the 1989 PGA at Kemper Lakes where he swept past Mike Reid in the last round, and the 1991 US Open at Hazeltine where he beat Scott Simpson in a Monday playoff). In 1999, he not only beat Phil, he showed good course management by laying up on his second shot on the last hole, and then hit a nice third to the green on the par 4, and then made the longest putt in history to win the US Open on the 72nd hole!! He also beat Tiger, Vijay, Retief, Ernie, and other top players, who were in contention on Sunday, but Payne's play and their mistakes left them behind.

3. The Ryder Cup---who can forget the Greatest Sunday Comeback in the history of the Cup? As Captain Ben Crenshaw said on Saturday night, "I will leave you with this thought---I have a good feeling about tomorrow". No truer words were ever spoken. Payne had been a vocal motivator for the team, and he stated in February that one of his main goals for the year was to make the team. "I have not been on the last two teams, and we lost. So I want to help us win, and I have to make the team to do that." His US Open victory cinched his place on the team.

In his singles match with Colin Montgomery, Payne had to go over and scold some fans who were badgering Colin. On the last hole in a match that was meaningless, since Justin Leonard had set the stage for us to clinch the cup, Payne conceded Monty his putt, and told him, "You have gone through enough. You do not have to putt this one." Monty declared that it was a great act of sportsmanship. But, then, that was typical of Payne.

4. Octobere 25, 1999. The tragic plane crash, that took Payne from us, along with the pilot and copilot, Bob Fraley, the head of Leader Enterprises which represented Payne, and Bruce Boland, who worked for Jack Nicklaus, and unfortunately "hitched a ride" at the last minute on the flight that was supposed to go to the Tour Championhsip in Houston.

After the accident, a number of memorials and tributes have been done, including the Payne Stewart Golf Course in Branson, Missouri, the statue at Pinehurst #2, the statue in Waterville, Ireland, and the Payne Stewart Award by the PGA Tour. Last year's winner was Davis Love III. How ironic and appropriate since Davis' Dad died in a plane crash in 1988 so he received the award 20 years after his Dad's tragic death.

[microcrayfish]

Was that 10 years ago? I remember it but didn't think the plane crash was that long ago. It was a long time before I started playing golf but I remember it well.

[David in FL]

Orlando about shut down for his funeral. I remember it like it was yesterday. One of my favorite golfers of all time.......a great loss to the game. Can't believe it's been 10 years.

[Jay-Bird]

This is how I remember Payne Stewart. What a great photo. (WWJD bracelet.)(from golf.com)

[Jmacgolf99]

Not exactly 10 years just yet.

[GaijinGolfer]

I remember all too well. Its hard to believe that its been 10 years.

[RC]

New people to golf may not know much about Payne, but he was a true sportman and a fine example for golfers everywhere. Honor and sadness come to mind at the same time.

[GaijinGolfer]

New people to golf may not know much about Payne, but he was a true sportman and a fine example for golfers everywhere. Honor and sadness come to mind at the same time.

Amen to that. The day that he was killed was definetly a sad day.

[Lefty39]

I was very young when he passed away, but for some odd reason he was the only golfer other than Tiger that I knew, because i would watch golf with my father, and I remember like it was yesterday when my father told me that he died in a plane crash.

[PEZGolf]

This is how I remember Payne Stewart. What a great photo. (WWJD bracelet.)(from golf.com)

You are right. We have that hanging in our Golf Room. Two interesting items are the rain jacket that has short sleeves. It had long sleeves and then Payne on Sunday took a pair of scissors and cut off the sleeves because they would bother him. The blue band on his right wrist says WWJD (What Would Jesus Do), and was given to him by his son, Aaron. When Payne died, he was wearing that wrist band, and unbelievably, it was not destroyed when the plane crashed into the ground!

[Quinn07]

I honestly can't believe that was ten years ago. I vividly remember the TV showing his plane in the air flying by the auto-pilot and the windows covered in ice. I also remember watching his mass on TV and seeing Zinger dressed like Payne, and having a very eerie resemblance. He was a great sportsman, but a better human being. He is greatly missed.

[PEZGolf]

I honestly can't believe that was ten years ago. I vividly remember the TV showing his plane in the air flying by the auto-pilot and the windows covered in ice. I also remember watching his mass on TV and seeing Zinger dressed like Payne, and having a very eerie resemblance. He was a great sportsman, but a better human being. He is greatly missed.

Nice post. Here are two thoughts about 'Zinger and Payne:

1. During his eulogy, Paul reminisced about Payne trying to run an outboard motor in his garage, and not realizing it had to be in water! Everyone, including Payne's widow, Tracey, cracked up, since they realized that was Payne. 2. In 2007, when Paul competed in a Skins Game in Albany, NY, the press asked him questions before the event. I asked if there were any players who might be on the American Ryder Cup team that had the enthusiasm, patriotism, and desire to win that Payne had, especially in 1999. Paul smiled, and said, "I am that desire and enthusiasm." Boy, did he ever show that in last year's Ryder Cup! As a result, he did a great job, and the entire team gave him lots of credit, including the use of pods in breaking the team down for practice and the matches.

[longfornothing]

See my sig.

He was "my" guy. I miss his swing. I miss the way he messed with other players and pissed them off. I miss his hat. I miss the way he railed against the USGA. Payne was a player.

[PEZGolf]

See my sig.

You are right. He could really needle other players, but he did understand that if you dish it out, you had better be prepared to "take it" in return. Another memory I have of him is that after 'Zinger beat him in the 1993 Memorial by blasting into the hole from a greenside bunker for birdie, Payne went to the locker room, and put bananas in 'Zinger's shoes so they would be nice and squishy. Paul was surprised but knew who the culprit had to be.

[MSDOGS1976]

Just think, he would be on the Champion's Tour now.

It was one of those sad days you remember like when a President is killed or something. Well, at least for golfers. I remember where I was when Kennedy was killed(grade school) and I was at work when I got the news on Payne. My brother emailed me about it.

[PEZGolf]

Just think, he would be on the Champion's Tour now.

You are right. I remember vividly where I was when John F. Kennedy was shot in Dallas (Latin class and the teacher could not understand the announcement over the PA system so I had to tell her that the President had been shot). When Payne's accident occurred, I was in the car, and my brother-in-law called me. He asked if I had heard about the "ghost plane". I told him that I did not what he was talking about, and why was he calling me. He said the plane had taken off from Orlando, and all on board were dead, and the Air Force had escorts around it, knowing that it would run out of gas, and crash. If it threatened any urban area, they would be forced to shoot it down. He said that a famous golfer was on the plane. I said, "Tell me that you do not mean Payne." He said that it was confirmed that he was a passenger. After I heard the plane had crashed, and all were confirmed dead, I called my son. Payne was our favorite golfer and we had met him a few times, and followed him during all four rounds of the Nabisco (now known as the Tour Championship) in 1989. It was at Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head, where Payne had won the Heritage that year (and the PGA Championship later as well--for his first of three Major victories). Payne had started Sunday's round out with five straight birdies and then sank his second shot on #9 for an eagle two to become the leader. Eventually, Tom Kite caught him and beat him on the first hole of the Sudden Victory playoff, with a 2 putt par to Payne's 3 putt bogey. When we talked to him at the door to the press tent, he looked at John, gave him his glove, and said, "Here, buddy, this is for you." We still have that glove, needless to say.

My son told me later that he cried himself to sleep that night. We miss him to this day. A great golf Champion, fun guy, good with the fans, and a good family man and man of faith in God.

[mray183]

New people to golf may not know much about Payne, but he was a true sportman and a fine example for golfers everywhere. Honor and sadness come to mind at the same time.

Unfortunately I was 11 at the time, and had little interest in the game. When it happened my parents were devastated. It sounds like he would be a great role model for a young golfer trying to further his appreciation for the game.

[play4him]

Payne was one of my favorite golfers, and I've shared on another thread that he hit one of the greatest shots I have ever seen. Anyway, back in the early 90's, I decided to start doing sketches of some of my favorite golfers. I hadn't drawn since high school before that, but for some reason I was (drawn) to it. I thought that maybe it would be something I could leave behind for my children someday. My goal was to try and get as many as I could autographed. Below is my sketch of Payne autographed by him at Southern Hills. I am not an artist, so please take it easy on me. I just wanted to share it with others who had a love for Payne.