The 2024 U.S. Open, which begins on Thursday on the Pinehurst Resort & Nation Membership’s Course No. 2 in Pinehurst, N.C., will probably be exhausting pressed to match the thrill that occurred on the identical course, and within the identical match, 1 / 4 century in the past.
On the 1999 Open, Payne Stewart, 42, knocked in a 15-foot putt for par on the 72nd gap to outduel Phil Mickelson by a stroke. Stewart, identified for his flashy wardrobe — he wore knickers — atoned for the four-shot lead he had squandered on the ultimate day of the Open a yr earlier than on the Olympic Membership in San Francisco.
The victory in Pinehurst was Stewart’s third main title; he had captured the P.G.A. Championship in 1989 and the U.S. Open in 1991.
In October 1999, heading to the season-ending match in Texas, Stewart died in a airplane crash that additionally killed 5 others.
His widow, Tracey Stewart; his caddie, Mike Hicks; Peter Jacobsen, a good friend and former tour professional; and the NBC analyst Gary Koch mirrored just lately on Stewart and his triumph in 1999.
Their feedback have been edited and condensed.
The Man
PETER JACOBSEN When he first got here out [on the PGA Tour], he was fairly cocky. He had his objective set on conquering the world. I believe the sport of golf humbled him just a little bit and made him focus extra on what he wanted to do to change into a fantastic participant, and he did simply that. He grew to become a person of large religion, a beautiful father and a beautiful husband.
MIKE HICKS He was positively a modified man. It was evident the way in which he dealt with the loss on the Olympic Membership. The outdated Payne Stewart within the early ’90s would have been just a little bitter on that loss, most likely wouldn’t have dealt with the media the way in which he did that Sunday after dropping. We led the match the entire week. He took that disappointment and that loss and turned that right into a constructive. He proved to himself he might nonetheless play at a really excessive stage, particularly in a significant, and that carried over into 1999.
The Week
GARY KOCH I noticed him on the vary within the early a part of the week, and he appeared very snug and really assured. Mike was from the Raleigh space, and Payne had frolicked round there with Mike for years, and I’m wondering if that performed into his consolation stage just a little bit.
TRACEY STEWART He missed the minimize in Memphis [the week before], and I believe he was planning on coming residence, and I mentioned, ‘Why don’t you’re taking Chuck Cook dinner [his instructor] and go up early and get some observe in up there?’ In order that they did that, and I believe he and Chuck walked across the golf course possibly with two or three golf equipment, and he simply discovered the place to not hit it.
HICKS I felt good and so did he. He was taking part in effectively. We have been rested. That match in Memphis [FedEx St. Jude Classic] didn’t finish until Monday, so it was a blessing that we missed that minimize. We performed Sunday, Monday and Tuesday after which Wednesday, we hit a bucket of balls and putted for about quarter-hour, and we left the golf course at 11 that morning. We had an early tee time on Thursday, so when he confirmed up he was ready.
The Closing Gap
HICKS That was the worst lie [in the rough for the approach shot] all week. He didn’t even ask me what we needed to the inexperienced. He hacked an 8 iron out of there in some way. It was superb he acquired the 8 iron on it. [The third shot] was fairly predictable, that he would depart himself a putt however [not] the size of putt you suppose you’re going to make, particularly to win a U.S. Open.
STEWART I might see Payne, however I didn’t know the place the outlet was. I used to be praying that he might make [the putt]. The group went loopy. After which I needed to make my approach out to see him, and it took a few minutes as a result of there have been individuals in all places. He circled and noticed me, and he instantly grabbed me and whispered in my ear, ‘I did it, lovey.’
HICKS I’ll be trustworthy with you. He’s lining that putt up. I’m considering, we’re going to be taking part in Monday [in a playoff].
KOCH It’s fairly uncommon when you consider it for somebody to make a putt, definitely of that size, on the ultimate gap of a significant to win. Tiger’s 72nd gap at Torrey Pines [to force a playoff in the 2008 U.S. Open] clearly involves thoughts, however you need to rank Payne’s proper up there with that.
JACOBSEN When that putt went in, I actually couldn’t consider it. Making putts like that to win majors, particularly for par, is indescribable. I used to be elated.
HICKS He’s immortalized with a statue at Pinehurst.
The Legacy
HICKS Clearly, he would have been a Ryder Cup captain. He was all the time an honest putter, however he had change into a fantastic putter. I really feel like he would have contended in additional majors for the following 4 or 5 years as a result of he was in such good situation. His again was not that nice, however he had realized to deal with it.
JACOBSEN I all the time surprise what Payne can be doing right now. He may be doing tv. I believe he can be a kind of iconic people in golf.