ABOUT 24 HOURS BEFORE HE MADE THE PUTT THAT EVERYONE IN GOLF WILL FOREVER REMEMBER, PAYNE STEWART had an equally important putt – one for birdie – on the 18th hole of Pinehurst No. 2 at the 1999 U.S. Open.
He made that one, too. And it gave him the lead heading into Sunday’s final round.
And while there’s not a full-throated celebration – it was only Saturday, after all – Payne did lightly shake his fist in triumph, giving us all a glimpse of what was to come.