Remember a GIANT

Ten years ago a tragedy covered the PGA and turned off one of its brightest stars. Married, with two kids and a passion for golf that only a few have, Payne Stewart died abruptly.

Stewart won 11 times in the PGA and 13 more in other tours.

The last time he lifted a trophy was in the 1999 US Open, tournament in which he grabbed his 3rd major victory by defeating a young Phil Mickelson, who was waiting, along with his wife Amy, the arrival of their first child.
His class in and out the course and his dressing code, which resembled golf’s first years, were some if the characteristics that made him stand out.
Stewart’s interest for the sport came when he was only 3 years old and grew faster when his father introduced him to Herman Keiser and Ky Laffoon, both PGA members.
Then, Payne continued his formation at Greenwood High School; by this time he won the SMSU High School Relay and two years later, in 1973, he lead his school team to the victory of the same event.
His talent was recognized by some recruiters and he finally went to the Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. It was precisely in that instance where he became a mature golfer.In 1979 he was the best of the Southwest Conference and he was voted All-American.
After his college accomplishments Payne decided to become professional and in 1980 he was part of the Asian Tour where we won twice as a rookie but two years later decided to go into the PGA
Q-School, where he got exempt status.
Seven years after that, and being one of the biggest golfing figures of the world, he lifted his first major trophy, by catching up with Mike Reid, who was 5 strokes ahead.It was the PGA Championship at Kemper Lakes.
His next great feat came at the 1991 US Open played at Hazeltine National Golf Club, where he defeated Scott Simpson in the second hole of playoff-
His accomplishments between 1989 and 1993, put him in the world ranking’s top ten for 250 consecutive weeks. He was part of the Ryder Cup team in 1987, 1989, 1991, 1993 and 1999, making him not just one of the most recognizable faces but one of the classiest players of the event because it was not just about rivalry, for Payne it was friendship, coexisting and union.
In October 25th, 1999 Payne was flying in his Learjet 35 from Orlando to Houston, where the Tour Championship was going to take place. However the aircraft suffered a suffered a loss of cabin pressure and everybody died due to hypoxia. Some time later it was known that the Learjet was set in autopilot and it crashed in South Dakota after running out of fuel.
The memorial service was held in October 30th and it gathered around 100 golfers such as Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Jack Nicklaus and Greg Norman.
Many things have been done in his memory, but those which stand out are:

• Since 2000 the PGA gives annually the Payne Stewart Award, which is handed to an individual that has shown respect for the game’s traditions, commitment to maintain the heritage of it and personal presentation through conduct and performance.
• He was inducted into the Wolrd Hall of Fame in 2001.
• In June 2009 the Payne Stewart Golf Club was inaugurated in Branson, Missouri. Each of the 18 holes of the course is named after the most important episodes of Stewart’s life, both on and off the course.