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, the last of which came just a few months before his death in an airplane accident at the age of 42.

Stewart gained his first major title at the 1989 PGA Championship. He won the 1991 U.S. Open after a playoff against Scott Simpson. At the 1999 U.S. Open at Pinehurst, Stewart captured his third major title after holing a 15-foot (5 m) par putt on the final hole for a one-stroke victory over Phil Mickelson.

Stewart was a popular golfer with spectators, who responded enthusiastically to his distinctive clothing. He was reputed to have the biggest wardrobe of all professional golfers and was a favorite of photographers because of his flamboyant attire of ivy caps and patterned pants, which were a cross between plus fours and knickerbockers, a throwback to the once-commonplace golf "uniform". Stewart was also admired for having one of the most gracefully fluid and stylish golf swings of the modern era.

Stewart was born and raised in Springfield, Missouri. He attended Greenwood Laboratory School, a K–12 school on the campus of Missouri State University.

Stewart played collegiate golf at Southern Methodist University in University Park, Texas. His coach was Earl Stewart. Stewart was also a member of Phi Gamma Delta. In 1979, he graduated.

In 1979, Stewart turned professional. He failed to earn a PGA Tour card at qualifying school after his senior year of college. Stewart played on the Asia Golf Circuit for a couple of seasons. He won two tournaments in 1981, including the Indonesia Open in a playoff over three players. Later that year, Stewart earned his PGA Tour card at Spring 1981 PGA Tour Qualifying School. He won his first title on the tour at the 1982 Quad Cities Open. This win was especially memorable to him because it was the only time his father, Bill, saw him win. Stewart's father had played in the 1955 U.S. Open, and had introduced his son to the game.

In 1983, Stewart gained his second PGA Tour victory by winning the Walt Disney World Golf Classic by two strokes. At the 1985 Byron Nelson Golf Classic, Stewart came to the 72nd hole with a three-shot lead. Moments after Bob Eastwood birdied the final hole of regulation, Stewart took a double bogey to end the tournament tied for first. Stewart then made another double bogey on the first playoff hole, causing him to lose to Eastwood.

In 1985, Stewart came close to winning The Open Championship, when he finished one stroke behind the champion Sandy Lyle.