This month marks the 15th anniversary of one of
the greatest major golf tournaments I’ve ever seen; the 1999 U.S. Open at
Pinehurst in North Carolina, where next week’s Open also takes place. It also
marks the anniversary of the very first golf tournament that I have any
recollection of ever seeing. Thus, that
tournament played a big role in my golf fandom today. Looking back, and until
this week that’s not something I’ve ever done, it’s also maybe the most tragic
tournament I’ve ever seen, as well.
I don’t remember too many particulars. I can’t give a
detailed hole-by-hole remembrance. What I do remember was I was an 11-year old
boy watching from my living room in small Oakland, Ark. I remember the key
players: a 42-year old funny looking veteran with two previous major titles
under his belt and an exciting, young golfer who’d yet to win a major and would
go five more years before he did. The vet was Payne Stewart, 1989 PGA champ and
1991 U.S. Open champ. He was funny looking because of his throwback attire
featuring knickers, high socks and ivy newsboy cap. His look, along with infectious
personality made him a fan-favorite. The youngster was Phil Mickelson, also a
fan-favorite, which he still is to this day, thankfully with five major titles now
to his legacy.
I remember this tournament almost more for its storyline
than I do for the shots or winner – even though both are unforgettable. I
remember Stewart and Mickelson being in a tight fight for the entire fourth
round, and Mickelson having to worry about the possibility of an 18-hole
playoff on Monday, because his wife, Amy, was going to give birth to their
first born at any moment. I remember the final hole, where Stewart had a
15-foot par attempt to win his second U.S. Open, after taking the lead with a
birdie on the previous hole, and the dramatics of the situation knowing that if
he didn’t sink it there would be a Monday playoff. I remember Stewart sinking
the putt and his celebration with his arm stretched out straight in a fist pump
and one of his legs thrust into the air behind him. One of the all-time great
golf images, in my opinion. Then, what I remember most was Stewart embracing
Mickelson after the match and telling Mickelson that even though he’d lost the
U.S. Open what he was about to experience with the birth of his first child
would be so much greater. The greatest moment of his life, in fact, and by the way, this all took place on Father's Day. It’s a
moment that I’m sure brought tears to the eyes of many watching and still will
today in remembrance.
Part of why this event is capable of bringing tears to the
eyes 15 years later has to do with what happened just four months after Stewart
was crowned U.S. Open champion. On Oct. 25, 1999 I was watching one of the
local Springfield, Mo. television stations, Springfield was not only the city
of my local television networks, but also Payne Stewart’s hometown, when they interrupted
regular programming with the tragic news that a plane carrying Payne Stewart
and five others had crashed in nowhere South Dakota. Despite the plane crashing
in South Dakota, the National Transportation Safety Board later declared that
Stewart and the others on the flight had actually died shortly after takeoff in
Orlando, Fla. of hypoxia from a loss of cabin pressure.
Stewart’s death was one of the earliest memories I have of
losing a great and beloved champion of a sport I loved. And, looking back on
the 1999 U.S. Open that occurred 15 years ago and the tragic death of Stewart
that followed just four months later I can’t help but think that without that
day and that great battle between Stewart and Mickelson and the sportsmanship
and greatness of humanity shown by the vet and the young gun afterward that I
might not be the golf fan I am today. Turns out I owe an awful lot to the great
Payne Stewart. I’m just glad that a 15th anniversary of a great
sporting event and the sport’s return to Pinehurst next week could remind of
that fact.
