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Is it Payne's year? Stewart a favorite at THE PLAYERS Championship
Posted: Monday March 22, 1999 05:35 PM
By Benjamin Berman, CNN/SI Wearing knickers with knee-high argyle socks and Kangol Vent-Air Ivy Caps on the usually conservative-dressed PGA Tour is an easy way to stand out. But with the way Payne Stewart plays, he doesn't need the clothes to stand out. His play does that for him. Stewart, this week's CNNSI.com Player to Watch, is the No. 18 ranked player in the world, but recently he's been even better. In 1999 the Orlando resident has lit up the Tour. In six PGA events, he has two top-10 finishes, including a win at the rain-shortened Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. His good play has been rewarded, as the $849,833 in '99 earnings ranks fourth on the circuit. Stewart is No. 15 in all-around statistics, including second in putting and birdies and seventh in scoring average. Like he's proven almost every week this year, Stewart should be a contender at this week's PGA event, THE PLAYERS Championship. Held in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., the TPC is considered by most the fifth major on Tour. Known for one of the toughest final three holes in golf, it takes experience and a strong mind to fare well at Sawgrass. Accuracy is a theme throughout this course. Specifically, the golfer needs to be accurate off the tee on every hole. A hook or slice could be fatal, as most holes have a narrow fairway that either has a slight dogleg, bunkers to work around or water to negotiate. Mindset may be more important then anything else at TPC. The golfer can never lose focus as there is something treacherous to work around on nearly every shot. That brings us back to Stewart.
Last year at Sawgrass, Stewart tied for eighth, including firing the tourney's low-round 65 on Sunday. In 15 appearances at TPC he has eight top-15 finishes. Nonetheless Stewart has been inconsistent at TPC. He has been cut five times, most recently in 1997. It appears that consistency may be his biggest problem. However, it appears his confidence is too high these days to miss the weekend at TPC. He has made 6 of 7 cuts in '99 and played 14 of 22 rounds under par. And he is coming off a strong performance last week at the Bay Hill Invitational where he tied for 13th at 6-under par. At Bay Hill he also shot the tournament's low round, a 65 on Friday. It is his play of late and confidence that should give Stewart the mindset to fare well at TPC. The mental aspect of a golfer is not built overnight. For Stewart, his experience has been built over 17 years on the PGA. He has 10 PGA victories as well as seven international wins, but may be better known for his second place finishes. In all, he has been runner-up at 24 different PGA tournaments. In 1998 Stewart may have suffered his most devastating second-place finish. After taking a four-stroke lead into the final round at the U.S. Open, he shot a 4-over 74 on Sunday and lost by one stroke to Lee Janzen. But don't go making a Greg Norman out of Stewart. He has proven to come through in the big event, winning two majors -- the 1989 PGA Championship and the 1991 U.S. Open. His three consecutive Skins Game titles (1991-1993) and four Ryder Cup appearances prove he can play under pressure. Despite all the runner-up awards, Payne Stewart is not a guy who will choke. With his experience and talent, Stewart would have little trouble fighting off the nerves. If he has a one-stroke lead on Sunday and teeing it up on No. 17 -- the par-3 island hole at Sawgrass -- look for Stewart to hit the middle of the green with ease. And even with no shot at the title on No. 17 come Sunday, Stewart would be a great Player to Watch.
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