PINEHURST, N.C. – Juanita Ferguson of nearby Charlotte was standing behind the 18th green at Pinehurst’s famous No.2 course yesterday, staring somberly at a bronze statue called “One Moment In Time.”
The life-size structure is of Payne Stewart, an instant after he drained a 15-foot putt for par on the 72nd hole to win the 1999 U.S. Open. It’s the moment most remembered from that major championship: His right fist extended, his right leg stretched out behind him, his face covered with pure joy.
“What a waste,” Ferguson mumbled. “He wasn’t just a good person, but a good golfer.”
It has been six years since Stewart beat Phil Mickelson by a stroke on this famed course to capture our national championship. But yesterday, many fans attending the first official practice day for the 2005 U.S. Open paused at the statue to take photos or simply reflect.
Five months after his victory here, Stewart was one of six people who died when a private plane lost cabin pressure. The plane continued to fly across the country until it ran out of fuel and crashed into a South Dakota field.
With the 2005 U.S. Open returning to Pinehurst, Stewart’s statue not only serves as a memory of his thrilling finish here, but also a reminder of how fragile life can be.
What I remember about Stewart is that he was fiercely competitive, but always enjoyed his moment in time. With his gold-tipped shoes, knickers and tam-o’-shanter cap, he was easily recognizable even to those with only a casual interest in golf.
It was clear he enjoyed who he was and what he did for a living, something you can’t say about all the players on Tour today. A few – such as Rory Sabbatini, Vijay Singh and Colin Montgomerie – barely acknowledge fans, dodge the media and generally act as if they don’t fully appreciate having one of the best jobs on Earth. Not Stewart.
“Payne will always be missed out here. He was a true character,” Ernie Els said. “He had a little bit of air and cockiness to him. But it was a nice kind.”
Mickelson’s memory of the ’99 U.S. Open is not of losing, but of what Stewart did after making his winning putt. In the midst of the celebration, Stewart grabbed Mickelson by the back of his neck and told him, “Good luck with the baby. There’s nothing like being a father.” Mickelson and his wife Amy had their first daughter, Amanda, the next day.
“It was very touching to me that when he just had one of the greatest triumphs of his career, he was thinking about somebody else,” Mickelson said recently.
During the 1999 Ryder Cup at Brookline, Stewart taught Davis Love III how to be competitor. “I had always sat back and waited for something to happen, kind of let the other player be the leader,” Love said. “He was more like, ‘I’m not going to let you just let it happen. We’re going to go out and beat these guys, and I want 100 percent from you from the first tee.’ ”
Stewart was fun, colorful and caring, qualities that are seldom found in the midst of the corporate culture that has engulfed the PGA Tour. Come to Pinehurst this week and you’ll see miles of ropes and fences all structured to keep fans as far away from the players as possible. Even Stewart’s statue is roped off, so no one gets too close.
Stewart didn’t mind touching his fans or letting his fans touch him. That’s something those competing in the 2005 U.S. Open should remember when they think of Payne Stewart.