Payne Stewart

William Payne Stewart (January 30, 1957 – October 25, 1999) was an American professional golfer who won 11 PGA Tour events, including three Major Championships. Known for his distinctive plus-fours, patterned pants, and flat caps, Stewart possessed one of the most gracefully fluid golf swings of the modern era. Born in Springfield, Missouri, Stewart played college golf at SMU before turning professional in 1979. After starting on the Asia Golf Circuit, he earned his PGA Tour card in 1981 and won his first title at the 1982 Quad Cities Open. Stewart captured his first Major at the 1989 PGA Championship at Kemper Lakes. He won the U.S. Open twice — in 1991 at Hazeltine (defeating Scott Simpson in a playoff) and in 1999 at Pinehurst No. 2, where his iconic 15-foot par putt on the 72nd hole defeated Phil Mickelson by one stroke. He also won four European Tour events, including the 1991 Heineken Dutch Open. Stewart represented the United States on five Ryder Cup teams (1987, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1999), winning three times. His final professional event was the 1999 Ryder Cup at Brookline, where he demonstrated remarkable sportsmanship by conceding a putt to Colin Montgomerie and calling out crowd misconduct. On October 25, 1999 — just months after his Pinehurst triumph — Stewart died tragically in an airplane accident when the Learjet 35 he was aboard lost cabin pressure and flew on autopilot until exhausting its fuel over South Dakota. He was 42 years old. Stewart was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2001. The PGA Tour's Payne Stewart Award, given annually to the player who best exemplifies character, charity, and sportsmanship, was created in his honor.