Payne Stewart Anniversary

[TroutBum]

Today is the anniversary of Payne's Death. He was one of my all time favorite PGA players. The only PGA tour event I ever went to was the Houston open in the eighties. I followed him the entire day, before the knickers. It was incredible watching him hit those long irons.

Rest in Peace Payne , I know you are watching over all of us.

[ks8829]

He had a silky smooth golf swing.

[Calc]

I have the Panye Avatar in his honor...

[PEZGolf]

I was hoping someone would start a thread remembering this 10th Anniversary. My son and I had the pleasure of meeting Payne when we followed him all four rounds for the 1989 Nabisco Tournament (now called the Tour Championship). John was 8 years old then, and I took him out of school for the week. It was played at the Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head.

On Sunday, Payne started the round with five straight birdies, and then finished the front side by holing his lob wedge on #9 for an eagle two!! He shot a new course record on that side of 29. He had catapulted into the lead!

On the back side, he just held in there, but his 37 meant that Tom Kite caught him and they had a playoff. Payne and Tom hit the green on the first playoff hole, #17, a par 3 by the Calibogue Sound. Tom lagged his putt up next to the hole, and Payne charged the birdie putt. He missed that, and then also failed to drop the 3 footer for par. Tom was the winner.

After that, John and I were standing in front of press building with Payne, and talked to him just a little. We told him that it was a pleasure to follow him. He looked at my son, and said, "Here, buddy, this is for you." He handed John his Titleist golf glove. Needless to say, we have that in our strong box to this day.

We saw him in a number of other tournaments after that, and he was fun to watch. When I talked to my son ten years ago, he was all shook up. The next day, October 26th, he told me that it was the first time he ever cried himself to sleep.

In my golf magazine, I wrote a tribute to Payne after his tragic death and sent a copy to his widow, Tracey. She responded with a nice letter that she would keep that in a special scrap book they were putting together. Payne was a great family man, and the way his wife talked about him at the Memorial Service ten years ago made that very clear.

May God bless Payne, and his family----wife Tracey, and children Aaron and Chelsea.

[PEZGolf]

I forgot to mention this----the recipients of the annual Payne Stewart Award given out by the PGA Tour have all been excellent, and it is great way to remember Payne. This year's winner, Kenny Perry, was a great choice.

[GaijinGolfer]

Rest in peace, Payne. We miss you!

[FHopper]

Having spent time in Lears the event was a living nightmare. Thank heavens it went down in a field.

[Dartguy]

Yeah, I'll never forget that day.

[Cussin hacker]

Sad that Payne left us so soon. The PGA needs more of the kind of people he was. A fun loving outgoing person he truely was.

[Fourputt]

I forgot to mention this----the recipients of the annual Payne Stewart Award given out by the PGA Tour have all been excellent, and it is great way to remember Payne. This year's winner, Kenny Perry, was a great choice.

The PGA Tour, and golfers as a group, lost a character and a leader when that plane when down. Every sport talks about the importance of team leadership. Although golf isn't normally a team sport, Payne was still the team leader of the entire tour, in my opinion. He had what can only be described as panache. Talent, commitment, style, integrity and a sometimes warped sense of humor... that total combination has yet to be replaced on tour. Although all of the past recipients are more than worthy of the award recognizing their honor, integrity, and what they give back to the game and the community, Arnold Palmer may be the only recipient who can match Payne Stewart in all of his special qualities. Palmer has panache too.

Tiger is almost too intense to be included in that same group. Too individual, not enough team identity or team leadership. Tiger is black and white.... not much gray. Most fans and fellow players either love him or hate him. They may respect him for his talent and intensity, but he isn't well liked on Tour in an overall sense. Payne Stewart wasn't much liked during his first couple of years but he changed his whole attitude, and became one of the most popular players of his generation, both with the fans and with his fellow players. Tiger hasn't made such a move, and because of his focus at beating out all of Nicklaus' records, he may never achieve that sort of team identity. All I can say is that I still miss seeing Payne Stewart stepping up to the ball in those outrageous knickers.... I miss that mischievous smile and the twinkle in his eye. In case you can't tell, I liked Payne Stewart.

[PEZGolf]

The PGA Tour, and golfers as a group, lost a character and a leader when that plane when down. Every sport talks about the importance of team leadership. Although golf isn't normally a team sport, Payne was still the team leader of the entire tour, in my opinion. He had what can only be described as panache. Talent, commitment, style, integrity and a sometimes warped sense of humor... that total combination has yet to be replaced on tour. Although all of the past recipients are more than worthy of the award recognizing their honor, integrity, and what they give back to the game and the community, Arnold Palmer may be the only recipient who can match Payne Stewart in all of his special qualities. Palmer has panache too.

My son and I agree with you 100%. Let me say two things: 1. In honor of Payne and his total spirit, I wear plus-4's in every tournament in which I participate. When people come up to me, and say that they have not seen anyone do that since Payne, I thank them for the compliment of mentioning me in the same sentence as him. 2. When my son's golf coach asked him who taught him how to play golf when she was recruiting him, he said, "My Dad did." "Do you know whose swing you look like?" she asked. "You tell me," he said. "Payne Stewart. You take a full turn and are the same height that he was---6'1"". I taught him that swing because Payne had such a classic, rhythmic swing, and it fit John's build. So, it was not just "hero worship". It was simply the right thing to do.

[Chas]

That has to be about the most gratifying thing a golfing dad could hope to hear about his son. Says a lot about the both of you.