Payne Stewart’s Unique Legacy Still a Huge Part of US Open and Pinehurst No. 2

By
at Internationaled.org

Published: June 10, 2014

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There was so much more to Payne Stewart than his 1999 U.S. Open victory at the legendary Pinehurst No. 2 golf course, which is tucked into a quiet little golf community in North Carolina that is springing to life this week as the Open makes its return.

But still, few conversations about Stewart and his considerable legacy in the game of golf can be had without going into great detail about it.

It has been 15 years since Stewart sank the clutch 15-foot putt on the final hole to beat a young Phil Mickelson by a single stroke at Pinehurst No. 2. As the ball dropped into the hole to seal the win, Stewart immediately struck the winning pose that has been immortalized by a statue that golfers today cannot miss as they walk off the 18th green.

It is as if Stewart himself, who died four months later in a bizarre plane crash in South Dakota, continues to lord over the green where he made history and solidified his place as one of the most adored golfers to ever play the game.

There are many professional athletes who eventually loom larger in death than they ever actually did in life. Stewart is not one of them.



He was not the greatest golfer of his era. He wasn't even always universally liked, earning a reputation earlier in his career for being "prickly" with golf writers who questioned—rightly, it seemed, at the time—his ability to close out tournaments, according to Larry Bohannan of The Desert Sun.

But in the end, he was plenty good enough at the game and had a winning personality that made him a superstar. He also seemed to mellow over the years as he piled up 11 PGA Tour wins, dominated the early editions of the old Skins Game and helped anchor some of America's more memorable Ryder Cup teams.

He also seemed to transform from a young man with a reputation for being a party animal to a devoted husband and father, without quite leaving the part...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Golf

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