10 years to the day, William Payne Stewart died in a tragic plane crash in South Dakota. He was 42 years young. U.S. Opens have been won, bigger names have shown up, but we never forgot Panye. Striding along the golf course in his knickers, so different from anyone else. We miss you Panye. R.I.P

Very cool guy. Met him several times when I worked the Fred Meyer Challenge in the 90's. Tragic loss. RIP Payne.

RIP

Missing you Payne!

Always one of my favorites, he would have been a great Ryder Cup capt. I hope his family is doing well.

Probably many stories like this, but after he died, my buddy and I wanted to find a way to pay tribute to Payne. We decided the best way was to dress like him in our next high school golf match. I'll never forget some of the looks that we got when we showed up with our knickers on. Priceless! It was a fitting tribute. He will always be missed. RIP Payne.

I saw him play and he had the smoothest swings ever. He was trying a driver that looked like a ladel from spalding, I think.

Wk

Payne was an all round good bloke.

RIP

+1 on the smoothest swing ever. I used to love the way he played. RIP~~~

Hearing that he died was one of those "never forget where I was" moments.

Yeah I sat in front of the TV while they tracked the plane, fearing the worst.

That was a very sad day 10 years ago. I was at Hazeltine when he won the US Open. I remember that day at Hazeltine and they day he died very vividly. RIP Mr. Stewart.

A legend in our sport.
I still tear up when I watch re-runs of his US Open win.

Don't know that I'd call him a golf legend. He was a good golfer, but an even better person. Perhaps in the sense that he was a humanitarian and did a lot of good in the world makes him a legend more so than his play. I did like to watch him play though, and his clothing was always a nice throwback to see outside of the pleated khakis and polo shirts. I do miss seeing the trademark knickers and ivy hat though.

Could not say it any better.

I never watch the Golf Channel, but I was skimming through all the channels and they had an hour long piece on him and then Payne Stewart top 10. It was awesome but very sad.

Payne was one of those guys that you would want to hang with. He was very grounded for a pro athlete. Its too bad there are not more people like Payne in golf now.

If the hour long special is on the Golf Channel watch it! Great story about a great guy. RIP Payne.

Boo Weekly's persona reminds me of payne a little

+1 on the TV special. This past February, I played at the Disney courses and saw Payne's locker that they have preserved with his knickers and shoes. There happened to be a group there that ALL wore knickers and argyle vests. On the the putting green before the round there was a heavy dew and a little patchy fog....
reminded me of the memorial service that they had for Payne. All that was missing was the bag pipes.

The Golf Channel had some interesting stuff on about Payne Stewart today. I was a fan of Payne back in the late '90s and seeing that sure brought back some memories.
Rest in peace, Payne. We miss you!

Yeah that was a great special.

I love when they his final putt on 18, and then him talking to Phil..... awesome moment. The statue of him doing that fist pump is way cool too.

I think the Payne Stewart Award just shows you how well liked and respected he was by his peers. Kenny Perry got choked up when recieving the award, so did Gary Player when was awarded it too.

Yeah they howed the memorial service on the special too, definately a sad special, but a good one.

A sad day for golf. I remember waking up to the news and just sitting there and watching in disbelief. Taken from the world way too soon. I was at the US Open on Thrusday and Friday of that year and feel the lump in my throat every time i see the highlights.

I had the honor to be in Pinehurst last week and played #2 on sunday with the "Payne" Flag that they cut every sunday near the hole location from US Open Final round in 1999. At just a week before the 10th anniversary of his passing it was truly a surreal time to be around the place. Just to speak to the people around there - the staff, the caddies, about their memories of the man is a special treat.

Payne is always a topic of discussion around Pinehurst and it was even more this time. Most people do not realize he had a relationship with the place that went way deeper than his amazing win in 1999. There are some great stories told in the town dating back to 1979 when he came there to play a series of mini-tour events and stayed at the Pine Crest Inn.

The best part is that in Pinehurst they do not remember Payne's passing as much as they mark the impact he made on the place during his life. That is something they are all happy to celebrate.

Feel free to grab a copy of this photo I took:

Click to view attachment

Awesome pic, and great story.

The good thing is I think Payne accomplished everything he wanted to with Golf, winning the Open at Pinehurst was his real final hurrah, although taken from his family way too early. I loved watching Payne play. I stood 4 feet from him during the Ryder cup, just a short time prior to him being taken from us. I'll never forget the look on his face. He had more charisma and charm than anybody else out there. He truly was one of a kind and a unique individual and a true Gentleman. I only wish my nephew who is just getting into the game now, could have experienced Payne, he would have loved him too. RIP Payne.

If I were to come up with a dream foursome, Payne would definitely be in it. He just seemed so easy-going, and I'm positive that watching that silky-smooth swing all day would take a good 5 strokes off my round. RIP

Married to an Aussie as well!!

Amazing turn around in personality from his arrogant, self absorbed, not well liked on Tour of the 80's, to a golfing statesman and renowned good bloke. Terrific competitor, lovely loose swing like Vijay and genuine champion with 3 Majors, and probably would have added another US Open to his Resume as well!

John Feinstein's book The Majors, about the 1998 Majors, has a wonderful chapter about Payne and how he handled the rough breaks, tough rulings and eventual loss to Lee Janzen in the US Open that year. It really surprised me how well he handled it all and the genuine joy he had for Lee after such a tough loss.

As said before, I hope his family are doing well.

Tragic loss too early - would be on the Champions Tour now ripping it up for sure!!

One of my all-time faves. Matter of fact, my son's middle name...Payne. Payne and Freddie, 2 of the smoothest, sweetest, easiest swings of any generation.

I sure do miss watching him.

Fishmon here from the uk in the preston area near birkdake.

Payne just class Gent

Thanks for your golf and you as a person

i always put money on him for the open.

Once again pure class


Just back from florida and saw some great pics of Payne at Bay hill