2014 Ryder Cup Auction - Featuring Jack Fleck Collection
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/28/2014
Payne Stewart Signed 1999 US Open Program - Pinehurst #2
The Fathers Day final round dual of Phil Mickelson and Payne Stewart featured one of the most memorable closes to a U.S. Open in history. Stewart closed the 1999 Open Championship out with a 15 foot par putt that dropped on the 18th hole to give him a one stroke win over Mickelson. He embraced Phil, who was looking for his first major and also the birth of his first child the next day,consoling him on the loss and raising his spirits with the famous line , "you are going to make a great father". This was as good as you can could get in the close to a Father's Day U.S. Open. The win marked Stewart's second U.S. Open triumph (1991) and third Major victory (1989 PGA). The Open win at Pinehurst#2 in '99 also verified in the media and fan's minds alike that Stewart's career was Hall of Fame worthy. Tragically we also know that Payne had a very short window to sign this program from his victory at Pinehurst (June 20,1999) to the day of his fatal airplane accident (October 25,1999).A scant 126 days between exciting triumph and tragic death. Somewhere in that time period Payne Stewart took this near mint program in his hand,from his win at the 1999 Open, and placed his autograph in the upper left hand corner. One of the very few, we are certain, he signed. Thinking back to autographing that summer of '99, yes people wanted to get Payne's autograph on U.S. Open items, but the real push was assembling items with the upcoming U.S. Ryder Cup team on them. That is where many of the Stewart signatures went to in this time period. Their are two things for sure here. First we sure miss Payne with his exuberant style of play and this signed program is a collectable that you may never see again in single signed format. James Spence Authentication (JSA) has reviewed this autograph, and their letter of authenticity will come with this item.
Please note: This auction will end at 7:00pm EST on September 28th with extended bidding to follow. All items in the auction will remain open until no items have received a bid within a 15 minute time period. All lots are free to be bid on until extended bidding has ended.
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