A Payneful Legacy

I had a great Father’s Day. I am blessed to have a great father and father-in-law. I still have one living grandfather who is a hero of mine. I had a wonderful chat with him yesterday.

I am even more blessed to be a dad of three awesome children who made me feel super special yesterday — thanks PC, Em, and Bman (and Kelly, too).

Then this weekend I had the yearly privilege and passion of watching the U.S. Open. It is always exciting and even today with a glance over to the action, this stuff is great. As I write, Phil Mickelson is surging and is the person most people are rooting for. Phil is an exciting player, great to fans, an awesome family guy, and is about to endure a hard fight with his wife as she begins treatments for breast cancer.

Interesting because 1o years ago Phil was fighting for another U.S. Open championship while his wife Amy was about to give birth to their first child. The golfer who won the 1999 U.S. Open is another hero of mine Payne Stewart. I was a fan of Payne as a child because I shared his last name. Then as I followed him I loved his spirit, style, sportsmanship, and golf game. He was a champion. Then he became a Christ-follower and used his fame and fortune to impact the lives of many through his charity work and faith. His W.W.J.D. bracelet became one of his many trademarks. I still remember his amazing putt to win the ’99 Open at Pinehurst and his fist pump in the air. Tragically, Payne died in an airplane accident 4 months after his amazing victory. About a year later, I read his biography written by his wife Tracy. I remember the tears as I read the book of how he loved life, golf, his family, and his Lord that changed His life. Still amazed how this tragedy occurred at the pinnacle of his life. Yet, the Lord has and continues to use the life of Payne Stewart to build His Kingdom. In my son’s room, we have a picture hanging of Payne hugging the U.S. Open trophy with his bracelet.

Payne has left an inspiring legacy that is being celebrated this week with the 10 year anniversary of his win, the heartfelt Father’s Day story, and the great man he was. Enjoy this video if you missed it this weekend: