Payne Stewart

William Payne Stewart (January 30, 1957 - October 25, 1999) was an American golfer. A three time major winner, he died in a plane accident at the age of 42. Born in Springfield, Missouri, he attended Southern Methodist University where he was a member of Phi Gamma Delta. He was always popular with fans, especially for his stylish clothing, and was reputed to have the biggest wardrobe of all professional golfers. He was a continual target for photographers especially because of his rakish tam o'shanter caps and elegant patterned trousers, which were a combination of plus fours and knickers.

Death

On October 25, 1999, a month after his United States team rallied to win the Ryder Cup in Brookline, Massachusetts, Stewart, age 42, died while flying in a Learjet from Orlando to Texas. National Transportation Safety Board investigators later concluded that the plane suffered a gradual loss of cabin pressure early in the flight, and that all on board died of hypoxia. The plane, apparently still on autopilot, was observed by F-16 fighter aircraft from the Air National Guards of several states. Other than condensation on the plane's windows, the military pilots saw nothing amiss. They were unable to directly observe the Learjet's pilot or copilot. President Bill Clinton authorized that the plane be shot down if it came near any major inhabited area. It did not, and was permitted to continue flying until it ran out of fuel and, after an uncontrolled descent, crashed into a field near Aberdeen, South Dakota. Among the five other people aboard the plane was Bruce Borland, a highly-regarded golf architect with the Jack Nicklaus golf course design company.

Related Topics:
October 25 - 1999 - United States - Ryder Cup - Brookline, Massachusetts - Learjet - Orlando - Texas - National Transportation Safety Board - Cabin pressure - Hypoxia - F-16 - Air National Guard - Bill Clinton - Aberdeen, South Dakota - Bruce Borland - Jack Nicklaus

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In 2001, Stewart was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.

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On June 8, 2005, a state court jury in Orlando, Florida found that Learjet was not liable for the deaths of Stewart and his agent Robert Fraley, in a lawsuit brought by their families.

Related Topics:
June 8 - 2005 - Orlando, Florida - Learjet - Robert Fraley

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The 2005 U.S. Open marked the first return of the event to Pinehurst No. 2 since Stewart won on the famous North Carolina course in 1999. The weekend was filled with remembrances of and tributes to Payne.

Related Topics:
Pinehurst No. 2 - North Carolina

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