Payne Stewart’s caddy remembers American hero 25 years later

It’s Monday, Oct. 25, 1999, and caddy Mike Hicks is on the bottom on the Champions Golf Membership in Houston, Texas, getting ready for the 1999 Tour Championship. Tiger Woods had simply received the Nationwide Automotive Rental Golf Traditional Disney the day earlier than in Orlando, whereas Hicks’ man, Payne Stewart, missed the reduce.

That allowed Hicks to get to Houston before anticipated, so he might stroll the course, determine sightlines, and make notes for Stewart, who would play later that week. Like the present version of the Tour Championship, solely 30 gamers teed it up then. However as a substitute of the FedEx Cup rankings, the season-long cash checklist decided the sphere till 2006. Thanks partially to his U.S. Open triumph at Pinehurst No. 2 earlier that 12 months, Stewart sat in third on the cash checklist, behind solely Woods and David Duval. The 42-year-old was top-of-the-line gamers on the earth.

So early that morning, Hicks went about his regular routine, preparing for the large event to come back. He had scouted eight holes already, and whereas on the ninth fairway, Hicks heard his mobile phone ring. It was Dan Swiniarski, the Director of Golf at Hicks’ dwelling membership again in North Carolina.

“Hey man,” Swiniarski mentioned to Hicks over the cellphone.

“There’s one thing occurring with a PGA Tour participant, and so they suppose it’s Payne Stewart.”

“What’s occurring?” Hicks requested.

“Yeah, man. You want to get to a TV. It’s on CNN,” Swiniarski replied.

An awesome sense of dread descended upon Stewart’s long-time looper. He didn’t know what was fallacious, so he shortly hung up the cellphone and began to make his approach again to his lodge room. However earlier than he might even determine which route to go, his cellphone rang once more.

It was Tracey Stewart, Payne’s spouse.

She delivered the harrowing information to Hicks that Payne’s aircraft, scheduled to fly from Orlando to Dallas that morning, had misplaced air stress inside the cabin. Air site visitors controllers had misplaced contact with the pilots within the sky, and the aircraft was flying in a northwesterly route with out management. Along with Stewart, his agent, Robert Fraley, and 4 others have been on board, together with the 2 pilots.

Stewart deliberate to cease at his alma mater, Southern Methodist College in Dallas, to debate the golf program’s future earlier than heading to Houston that evening. However he by no means made it.

Hicks finally did make it again to his lodge room and watched every thing unfold on the TV. He couldn’t consider his eyes. He sat in disbelief alongside his good good friend Mike “Fluff” Cowan, who arrived that morning from Orlando. Fluff was caddying for Woods on the time.

Hours later, and nonetheless in a state of shock, Hicks flew again dwelling to North Carolina to choose up his spouse. They then headed straight for Orlando to be with the Stewart household.

“Powerful recollections there, bro,” Hicks lamented on a latest cellphone name with SB Nation.

“Powerful recollections.”

Mike Hicks obtained his first large break caddying on the PGA Tour in 1984, when Curtis Unusual employed him as a part-time looper. Earlier than then, Hicks, who left NC State in 1980 to pursue a profession caddying, had temporary stints carrying the luggage of David Edwards, Don Pooley, and Lon Hinkle. However he couldn’t flip down the chance to work for Unusual, regardless that it was part-time.

In these days, many caddies would break up the job, that means somebody would work half the weeks whereas anyone else carried through the others. With Unusual, Hicks break up his time with Donnie Wanstall, who additionally caddied for Hale Irwin on the time. But it surely was throughout this era during which Hicks started to develop a relationship with Payne Stewart. Because the PGA Tour has executed for many years, prime golfers play alongside each other from week to week. Marquee or featured teams are nothing new. With Unusual and Stewart being top-20 gamers on the earth all through the Nineteen Eighties, these two performed a number of golf collectively, that means their caddies spent a ton of time with one another, too.

Quick ahead to 1987, and Unusual, Stewart, and a handful of People, together with Mark Calcavecchia and Tom Kite, have been in Japan for the World Championship of Golf. This Ryder Cup-like occasion featured gamers from the U.S., Europe, Japan, and Australasia. Gamers obtained an look charge in the event that they confirmed up and a assure of $100,000 in the event that they received. But, Stewart arrived within the Far East with a brand new caddy. He lately fired his outdated looper, Rob Kay, and introduced Tim Davies of Jacksonville, Florida, to hold his bag that week.

“I don’t understand how [Stewart] discovered this man,” Hicks mentioned.

“Anyway, the primary day in Japan, Tim Davies exhibits up and he’s carrying knickers, a Hogan hat, socks, the entire 9 yards. And we’re this man going, ‘Huh?’ I do know it threw Payne for a loop, too. He wasn’t anticipating it. So, I type of figured that this wasn’t gonna work out too nicely.”

At one level that week, Hicks pulled Stewart apart and mentioned, “Look, if this job opens up once more, I would really like a shot.” As nice as Unusual was—and he would go on to win the subsequent two U.S. Opens at Brookline and Oak Hill—Hicks wished to hold a bag full-time for one participant. So, a couple of months later, originally of the 1988 season, Stewart tabbed Hicks for a four-week trial run for the West Coast swing. The newly-minted duo posted 4 prime 10s, all of which might have became wins if not for a foul break right here or there, nevertheless it was nonetheless a profitable debut for Hicks.

“The remaining is historical past,” Hicks jokes.

Two weeks after formally hiring Hicks as his full-time caddy, Stewart went to Hicks’ dwelling state of North Carolina to satisfy Dr. Dick Coop, a sports activities psychologist on the state’s flagship College in Chapel Hill. Conveniently, Hicks resided in close by Hillsborough on the time, solely about 10 miles from the College.

Stewart was already a world-class participant. He did every thing proper. He might form any shot required. Gap any putt when wanted. And he might beat every other participant on the earth head-to-head. He was not the longest off the tee, however he nonetheless managed to contend in each event he performed. However he lacked one main factor that just about each skilled golfer has: a pre-shot routine.

Coop helped him construct one as the 2 would work at Hope Valley Nation Membership in Durham, with Hicks watching intently.

“I used to be there listening to every thing, and I might reiterate it to him on the course and on the highway,” Hicks mentioned.

“If it hadn’t been for Dick and Payne acknowledging the truth that he wanted some assist mentally, he would have by no means turn out to be the participant he did.”

At that time, whereas on the course and in competitors, Stewart centered an excessive amount of on the issues proper in entrance of him: water, bunkers, out-of-bounds stakes, or no matter hazard threatened to derail a spherical. As any golfer is aware of, these penalty areas at all times manipulate the thoughts, diminishing a participant’s confidence within the course of. This mindset usually results in an even bigger quantity and, in flip, missed alternatives.

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So, Coop determined that he and Stewart would give attention to the pre-shot routine, which concerned establishing an intermediate goal. Whether or not it was a divot, a leaf, or a speck on the turf, Stewart would align his clubface with that spot each time. However earlier than he had a membership in his arms, Stewart would first pull on his glove, making certain it felt tight on his left hand. Then, after his enjoying associate hit their shot, Hicks would give Stewart his bag, who then would draw a membership. Every time his enjoying associate’s ball lastly got here to relaxation, it signaled the beginning of Stewart’s inside clock—the purpose at which he began his routine.

“He was at all times self-confident. He believed in himself from day one. You don’t get to that stage and never consider in what you’re doing,” Hicks mentioned.

“He simply wanted just a little bit to get him over the hump, and he obtained that from Dick. After which, after all, he received two majors not too far after that.”

Stewart’s first main triumph got here on the 1989 PGA Championship at Kemper Lakes in Illinois, the place he confronted a five-shot deficit going into the back-nine. To offer you a way of the place his confidence was, Stewart, on the tenth tee, mentioned to ABC Sports activities Announcer Jerry Pate, “I’m gonna shoot 30 this aspect and win the event.”

He wound up taking pictures a 5-under 31, and with some assist from Mike Reid, who dropped three photographs on the ultimate three holes, Stewart received by one.

His 1991 U.S. Open victory didn’t come as simply.

Stewart labored via again ache all week but nonetheless managed to take a seat atop the leaderboard after every spherical. No one liked the U.S. Open greater than Stewart, an American patriot of unfathomable proportions. It’s why he liked his nationwide Open and the Ryder Cup greater than something. However after 72 holes at Hazeltine, Stewart sat in a tie with Scott Simpson, forcing an 18-hole playoff the next day.

Throughout that spherical, a spherical which Hicks described as “uncontrolled,” Stewart fired a 3-over 75 whereas Simpson might solely muster a 5-over 77. But, like his maiden main triumph two years prior, Stewart’s opponent held the lead late and coughed it up. Simpson led by two on the sixteenth tee, however three pricey bogies on the ultimate three holes sealed his destiny, thus handing Stewart his first U.S. Open title.

He would go on to contend once more in 1992, however a final-round 85—throughout “hurricane-like” circumstances at Pebble Seaside—derailed his possibilities. He was proper there once more in 1993 at Baltusrol, however Lee Janzen made three birdies over the ultimate 5 holes to greatest Stewart by two.

Then, in 1994, Stewart signed an gear take care of TopFlite, which led to a wholesome dose of struggles. His ball would go straight up within the air with out rhyme or cause. Stewart had no management over his golf ball, which explains why he didn’t document a top-10 in a serious till the summer season of 1998, when he fell wanting Janzen once more on the U.S. Open at The Olympic Membership.

However that runner-up end in San Francisco served as a harbinger of issues to come back for 2 causes: one bodily and one psychological.

First, Stewart made a bogey late within the remaining spherical at The Olympic Membership after his ball landed in a sand-filled divot. Anybody who has performed the sport is aware of this unfortunate break results in unpredictable outcomes. You by no means understand how the ball will react, particularly underneath main championship stress. So it’s no marvel Stewart spent a lot time working towards photographs out of sand-filled divots the next 12 months, through the week main as much as the 1999 U.S. Open. He knew that breaks like this might occur.

But, maybe extra importantly, Stewart believed in himself once more. He knew he might get the job executed. Hicks felt that approach, too.

“We knew we might nonetheless win one in every of these items,” Hicks recalled.

“I imply, he’s 41 now, however what everyone says, ‘When you get to 40, it’s true, every thing begins to harm. You’re on the prime of the mountain, and now, you’re hitting the opposite aspect. The physique begins aching just a little extra. However he proved to himself that week, and to me, that, ‘Hey, what? He can nonetheless do that.’ There wasn’t a query that he can nonetheless do that.”

Nicely, hints of doubt lingered the week earlier than the 1999 U.S. Open. Stewart missed the reduce in Memphis, primarily as a result of a 2-over 73 that he carded within the first spherical. However his head was not in Southwestern Tennessee. His thoughts was elsewhere, about 600 miles due east, within the small village of Pinehurst, North Carolina, which was getting ready to host the U.S. Open for the primary time.

So after his 2-under 69 within the second spherical, Stewart and Hicks every went dwelling. Stewart would fly as much as Pinehurst the next morning, a Saturday. However earlier than he even landed, Hicks had already made the 90-minute drive from Hillsborough to scout No. 2 and was on his approach again dwelling when Stewart touched down.

Stewart by no means carried a yardage ebook, however that modified this explicit week. He spent that Saturday strolling the course together with his coach, Chuck Cook dinner, bringing solely his wedge, putter, and a yardage ebook. He plotted the place he couldn’t miss, taking a crimson Sharpie and circling the areas across the greens that have been absolute no-go’s. Stewart discovered solely a type of spots through the entirety of the event. That second got here early through the remaining spherical on the 2nd gap, and Stewart holed a six-footer to save lots of bogey.

However every week earlier than that pivotal second, two essential conversations befell on the Sunday earlier than the official apply rounds started.

The primary got here within the Pinehurst clubhouse.

“I’m sitting there, and we’re on the brink of stroll out to the vary, and Payne says, ‘Hey, what? You didn’t do an excellent job final week,’” Hicks mentioned.

“And I mentioned, ‘Yeah, , I do know I wasn’t as talkative as I usually am. However what? I used to be desirous about this week, buddy. I’m sorry.’”

Stewart understood, however solely partially.

“Yeah, me too,” Stewart replied.

“However that’s nonetheless no excuse. You probably did a foul job final week.”

About an hour later, Stewart, Hicks, Cook dinner, and Coop have been out on the golf course, strolling down the 2nd gap throughout their first apply spherical.

Hicks had seen that Stewart had shied away from a vital a part of his pre-shot routine: establishing an middleman goal earlier than his stroke. The outcomes confirmed one thing was off, too. Earlier than lacking the reduce on the FedEx St. Jude Traditional, Stewart tied for twenty fourth on the Memorial, missed the reduce in New Orleans, after which tied for sixtieth on the Shell Houston Open, indicating that he arrived in North Carolina with poor type.

So on that 2nd gap, after Stewart performed his tee shot, Hicks and Coop walked slowly behind the others, establishing one other all-important interplay.

“What’s occurring,” Coop mentioned to Hicks.

“Nicely, for one factor, he’s not choosing his intermediate out,” Hicks replied.

On the very subsequent tee field, Stewart stood over the ball with a 3-iron in hand.

“The place’s your intermediate goal?” Coop blurted out.

Stewart regarded up, contemplated, and paused. He then took a deep breath, established his intermediate goal, and returned to his outdated routine. From that time ahead, Stewart picked out his intermediate goal in each apply rounds and in competitors. And, after all, he went on to win the event, holing a 20-footer for par on the 18th inexperienced to beat Phil Mickelson by one. It has since turn out to be one of the enduring spectacles in {golfing} historical past.

“He didn’t need to hear that from me,” Hicks says with amusing.

“It could have most likely gone in a single ear and out the opposite, however when his psychologist—, I didn’t inform him that I informed Dick, he thought Dick had picked up on it, proper? However I’m nonetheless satisfied we received that event as a result of he obtained again into what he was speculated to do. His pre-shot routine was there.”

However one thing particular was there, too, within the type of a powerful friendship. The bond between Hicks and Stewart was unmatched amongst different gamers and caddies. You may nonetheless really feel all of it these years later. The 2 buddies spent a lot time collectively off the course, and their households did, too. So it comes as no shock that Hicks didn’t choose up a everlasting bag after Stewart’s passing. He rotated amongst tour gamers, starting from Bob Estes to Steve Stricker, however no person in comparison with Stewart—via no fault of their very own.

These days, Hicks resides in Tennessee together with his spouse and takes after his getting old father. However as Stewart did—and his household continues to do via the Payne Stewart Children Golf Basis—Hicks provides again to {the golfing} world, too. He does so via the Tour Caddy Collective, a bunch of PGA Tour caddies who function motivational audio system at occasions however, extra importantly, train up-and-comers about what it takes to be knowledgeable looper. Hicks and some different distinguished caddies will host a Skilled Caddie Certification program at NC State subsequent February, which can assist foster the subsequent era of caddies within the recreation. He needs to see extra kids caddy, and the demand for them far outweighs the provision. However who is aware of? Possibly, in the event you do find yourself caddying, then it is possible for you to to inform tales like Hicks has executed for therefore a few years.

Amid the dangerous recollections that linger from at the present time 25 years in the past, these near Stewart can at all times recall the numerous tales that made him the legendary determine he nonetheless is. He was gregarious, charming, and, sure, flamboyant. However he was additionally beloved by so many, and so many proceed to like him to at the present time.

“Put it this manner, the Lord broke the mould when he made Payne Stewart,” Hicks mentioned.

“There’s by no means going to be one other Payne Stewart on this Earth. I can inform you that.”

However what if I informed you he’s patiently ready to your arrival in heaven?

Jack Milko is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Enjoying By. You’ll want to take a look at @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You may observe him on Twitter @jack_milko as nicely.