 
We Salute You!
Paynes faith was consistent. He was a man of God who had recommitted himself to Christianity last year and never tired of reminding us that's what was making a difference in his life; that's what gave him peace in life; what won him his second U.S. Open. This is also what made this in his own words...the best year in his life. He wore a blue bracelet on his right wrist inscribed with W.W.J.D, (What Would Jesus Do) a gift from his son Aaron prior to the U.S. Open. It's that bracelet you see as he raises his arm in victory on the 18th green; the same one circling his wrist as that fist pumped overtime at the Ryder Cup. Mr. Stewart once said "I'm a lot more mentally prepared to
deal with situations than I have been in the past," he said. "It goes back
to my faith being so much stronger over the past couple of years."
Our prayers and hearts go out to his wife and their two children who have to face this. Who can not turn the T.V. off and make it go away. We have lost a great in the game of golf but they have lost most of all, they face the rest of their lives without a husband and a father. In addition to Stewart, those aboard included golf-course designer Bruce Borland and two officers of Leader Enterprises, the firm that chartered the Lear 35 jet. Robert Fraley and Van Ardan acted as agents for Stewart, said Jerri Gibbs, of the Orlando-based firm. The two pilots were identified as Michael Kling, 43, and Stephanie Bellegarrigue, 27. These are all people that others loved, people who had family and friends, true, they may not of held the fame that Mr. Stewart did, but believe me, in God's eyes, their families and friends they held more fame than any other person. Let's all remember all the families here!
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Stewart
and Mark O'Meara at the Ryder Cup in Brookline. (Allsport)
Stewart
celebrates with his family at Hazeltine National Golf Club. (AP) - Victory
was sweet for Payne Stewart, especially this one. The first of his two
U.S. Open titles came in 1991 at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Minnesota.
Stewart also made a point of celebrating with his family. He donated his
winner's check from the 1987 Bay Hill Invitational to the Florida Hospital
Circle of Friends in memory of his dad, who died two years earlier.
Stewart
hugs Beverly Janzen after Lee won the 1998 U.S. Open. (AP) - Stewart experienced
his share of victory, but he also showed how to be gracious in defeat.
He was runner-up to Lee Janzen at two U.S. Opens: 1993 at Baltusrol Golf
Club in New Jersey and 1998 at The Olympic Club in San Francisco. Here,
at the 1998 Open, Stewart shows the sportsmanship of a champion even though
he finished one shot behind Janzen.
A
note hangs from a flower arrangement left at the parking spot for Stewart
at Champions Golf Club in Houston --where he was to compete in a Pro-Am
tournament this week.
