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The USGA is honoring Payne Stewart with a particular flag on 18.
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This U.S. Open marks the fourth held at Pinehurst No. 2, nevertheless it additionally marks the silver anniversary (twenty fifth) of the primary U.S. Open held on the famed North Carolina resort.
That U.S. Open in 1999 was in fact received by the late Payne Stewart, who sank a 15-foot par putt on the 72nd gap to beat Phil Mickelson by a stroke for his third main title.
Tragically, that was Stewart’s final of his 11 PGA Tour titles as he died simply 4 months later in a aircraft crash. He was 42 years previous.
The positioning of his remaining victory by no means misplaced contact with Stewart as he’s honored there with a bronze statue depicting his well-known single-leg kick and fist pump after making the putt to defeat Mickelson in ’99 overlooking the 18th inexperienced of the No. 2 course.
This week, the USGA moved that statue into its fan central for the U.S. Open in order many followers may have the chance to have their footage taken with it.
For the finale of this 12 months’s U.S. Open, the USGA is taking a number of further steps to honor Pinehurst No. 2’s first U.S. Open winner.
As USGA CEO Mike Whan introduced earlier within the week, the flag on the 18th inexperienced will function a silhouette of Stewart’s iconic remaining putt. The mesh siding across the 18th gap grandstand will, too. The pin location may even look acquainted to those that have seen the spotlight of Stewart making the ultimate par save because it’s the identical one utilized in 1999.
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“We’re actually proud to be right here in 2024 and have fun the twenty fifth anniversary of Payne Stewart’s iconic victory right here. What a reminiscence that was. I used to be right here. His spouse Tracey and his household are right here. His caddie Mike Hicks is right here,” Whan mentioned on Wednesday. “I’ll inform you one last item, and that’s I imagine we’re about to embark on one thing very particular. 1,000 championships. That doesn’t occur fairly often. However it is going to be particular partly as a result of Payne Stewart, I imagine, is smiling from above wanting down on this week with nice pleasure.”
Whan additionally revealed that a few of Stewart’s memorabilia given to the USGA by his household is on show for gamers to see within the locker room this week.
This isn’t the primary time the USGA has honored one in every of its champions with a particular flag on the ultimate gap of the U.S. Open. On the 2017 U.S. Open at Erin Hills, the primary Open performed for the reason that loss of life of Arnold Palmer, the flag on the 18th gap Sunday featured a silhouette of the 1960 champion tossing his cap within the air after profitable at Cherry Hills.
With a decent leaderboard and stars on the prime, the 2024 U.S. Open figures to be headed for one more thrilling end.
