| Home Page | Outdoors Page | Sports Page | >
|---|
We all heard about the tragic accident that happened on Monday, October 25, 1999. One of the most famous and well-known golfers died. It was Payne Stewart the 1999 U.S. Open Champion. He was at the height of his career when his plane went down and crashed in northeastern South Dakota. We were all amazed at what happened.
Payne Stewart was probably one of the most well known golfers to come on the PGA Tour since Arnold Palmer. With his baggy-fit pants and his football color shirts. It is hard to forget someone with such exploding attitude that Stewart shared with all of us.
When Payne won the U.S open in 1999. It was no surprise to us that he had it in him, how he came so close to winning the year before. But on the 18th fairway when he drove it into a divot and had to lay up and then missed his par putt on the 18th to lose it to Lee Janzen. But this time he pulled it together and beat Phil Mickleson by one stroke with a 15-foot putt.
When we all heard about this, we were all shocked at what happened and wondered why. Like he said at the Open "You never know when you are going to go!" We all don't know why he is gone. He was such a friend to all the golfers on the PGA Tour and even a greater dad to his two kids. All the golfers on the PGA Tour went to his Funeral Service on Friday October 29, 1999. They all went after they played 27 holes on Thursday.
At the golf tournament, Bob Estes hit a 15-foot drive off the first tee box with his putter to remember the great putt that Payne Stewart made on the last hole at Pinehurst. Davis Love III was leading the tournament after the first day. He had a one-stroke lead over Tiger Woods. After Thursday's round they both left in their private jets to go to Orlando, Florida for the funeral. After Saturday's round Tiger was leading by 3 strokes over Love III. On Sunday Tiger won by 4 strokes, that was his 7th win of the season.
At the end we all thought of Payne Stewart at what he did for the game of golf. We all know that he is gone, and that we will never see him again in our lifetime. We will always think of him and remember him and the game that he shared with us. As we say goodbye to Payne Stewart we can just sit here and remember the way he played the game and way we loved to watch him play it. Now that he is gone we will all think to ourselves and give our regards to the family. As a husband, father, and great friend he is now gone at the age of 42.