PINEHURST, N.C. – Twenty-five years ago, Payne Stewart left an indelible mark on the U.S. Open with an 18-foot birdie on the 72nd hole to win at Pinehurst No. 2. He punctuated the moment with an outstretched fist of triumph, almost buoyant in extension.
Four months later, Stewart tragically died in a plane crash, but his legacy echoes across these grounds in the Carolina Sandhills, now and forever – especially on U.S. Open Sunday.
The USGA is honoring Stewart and his legacy with a commemorative flag on the par-4 18th hole for Sunday’s final round at Pinehurst No. 2. The flag is inscribed with a silhouette of Stewart’s winning moment a quarter-century ago, a celebration that was dually exuberant and classy. The moment neatly matched Stewart’s ethos and hence punctuated his achievement so perfectly.