Payne Stewart Biography

William Payne Stewart, born January 30, 1957, was an American professional golfer who won 11 PGA Tour events, including three major championships, before his death in an airplane accident on October 25, 1999, at age 42. Stewart captured his first major title at the 1989 PGA Championship. He secured his second major victory in 1991 by winning the U.S. Open in a playoff against Scott Simpson. At the 1999 U.S. Open at Pinehurst, Stewart won his third major title by holing a 15-foot par putt on the final hole to edge Phil Mickelson by one stroke. Stewart played collegiate golf at Southern Methodist University in University Park, Texas. He earned his PGA Tour card at the Spring 1981 PGA Tour Qualifying School. In 1985, Stewart finished one stroke behind champion Sandy Lyle at The Open Championship.