1991 U.S. Open Golf Championship Film: Payne's Dream At Hazletine

my friends at the USGA and Rolex have asked me to welcome you to the 1991 United States open video this video is provided through a grant from Rolex which also supports the US Open annual magazine proceeds generated from these projects help the USGA promote junior golf throughout the nation these programs include Junior par systems at golf courses and grants that introduce inner city youth to my favorite game although I've seen my fair share of us opens Through The Years each one remains special to me the 1991 Championship held at Hazel te National Golf Club was no exception the national championship of the United States traditionally has played on the country's finest courses famous Championship tests such as balus Roy Golf Club in Springfield New Jersey and in a suburb of Pittsburgh Oakmont Country Club with its trademark church pew bunkers other familiar venues include Wing foot sight of fuzzy Zeller's Triumph in 1984 Mar and golf club the grand D on Philadelphia's main line and of course the Magnificent Links at Pebble Beach site of the open in 1992 but when 8-year-old Hazel te National Golf Club in chasa Minnesota was selected as the host club for the 1970 open it quickly became one of the most maligned of open courses it lacks definition critics cried and that was one of the milder complaints but a far different course awaited the world world's best players when they returned to Hazel te for the 91st playing of the US Open Championship 14 of the 18 holes had undergone major Renovations by the original architect Robert Trent Jones and his son reys gone were the blind shots and severe dog legs the course was unanimously praised by the field with a phrase that has typified open courses of the last decade it was tough the players decided but fair 21 years ago Dave Hill had a wonderful you open at Hazel team finishing second to Englishman Tony jacquin but what's remembered most about Dave that weekend is not his play but the criticism he made at the golf course he said they ruined a perfectly good Farm by turning it into a golf course he compared it to a cow pasture as a result of which when he came out to play the next day the crowd didn't boo him the Minnesota mooed at him well 21 years later when they came here for the open in 1991 it was an entirely different Golf Course a magnificent layout for the Open Championship and this whole just behind me a brand new hole the 16th in the course of one short weekend became one of the most famous holes in Gulf what a test it was for the open from the Hazel teen National Golf Club in shasa [Music] Minnesota The 91st United States Open Championship pay's dream at Hazel team the pening champion at halil Irwin the oldest man to win an open led a 156 man field that included four-time winner Jack Nicholas former Champs Tom Watson Curtis Strange azy Zeller and the Amer sensation Phil Mickelson and a strong International contingent that included England's Nick Faldo Australia's Greg Norman Spain's resurgent seie bosteros we Welshman Ian wam the Spanish a Jose Maria olab and the Australian Wayne Grady lesser known players such as Terry deer first off the tea on Thursday morning Jeb Stewart Fred shery Louie Garcia and Bob laskan all living a Dream by playing in the US Open Championship where everyone starts off even by the middle of the first day the field has started to sort itself out hail Irwin a three-time Open winner was pumped up for his title defense birdie at the 16th helped him to a first round 71 one under [Applause] par Davis loveed the third rarely a factor in previous opens also got off to a strong start with shots like this on 13 wow he'll settle for a par there and a 70 for the day strongman Freddy coupl also finished with a two under 70 here getting out of a bunker with his approach on the 18th unfortunately he'll miss that putt Scott Simpson doesn't miss many this birdie putt at 18 puts the 1987 champion in a large group at two under 70 also in that illustrious group is Jim Gallagher who has this approach to the 10th green Gallagher showing no signs of backing off playing in his record 35th US Open Jack Nicholas is still a player to be reckoned with Nicholas will save far out of the trees on six and join the crowd at two under and Australian Craig Parry adds his name to the leaderboard with strong iron play like this approach on the 14th hole Parry who plays most of his golf on the European tour is playing in his second US Open here's Mark kav a putting for a birdie on the 10th hole Mark will finish his first round with 69 Tom Byron with a long birdie attempt from The Fringe at 12 and he'll tap that in for a par on route to a round of 68 for underpar now here's Nolan hanky with a long attempt at the 10th hole he'd like to get this one close nice touch close that's about as close as you can get isn't it in the hole hanky having the best year of his young career finished with 67 and a tie for the lead in the open still out on the course resplendant as always in his plus fours is Payne Stewart this put at the 11th moves him to four under par and Stuart now with this approach shot on the 15th and he'll have that one left for a birdie and here's the birdie putt Payne Stewart sidelined early in the year with a neck injury is in no pain now he's tied for the lead in the open at 5 under par 67 a severe thunderstorm and tragedy struck the Hazel te National Golf Club Thursday afternoon first round play was suspended for nearly 3 hours by rain high winds and most of all lightning that sent players and volunteers scurrying for cover tragically one spectator was killed five people were injured when lightning struck a tree near the 11th T Swift action by Emergency Medical Teams and other Spectators may have prevented additional loss of life it was 9:00 by the time Payne Stewart finished his round and joined Nolan hanky on top of the leaderboard 11 groups were left on the course at the end of what will be remembered as one of the open's longest and most trying [Music] days despite the sunshine there was mud on the course early Friday Jodie mud that is and that 13 footer for a birdie on the 12 hole moves mud to three under for the day and four under for the championship also making a move is Ian wam of Wales putting here on the 16th hole and that one is right in the heart wam who won the Masters in April has that grand slam Glen in his eye as he strides to the 17th T at four under par Craig Stadler with a delicate chip on the 10th hole nice touch there watch should keep rolling and Stadler will get his [Applause] par Fred Couples also is playing well good shot however he'll miss that Putt and settle for par at the ninth hole Scott hul in the 5-in rough at 15 it's about as good as he could do from that lie and he'll get his birdie and go to Five under par Scott Simpsons approach shot at 11 and that turned out to be another birdie for Scott who always seems to play well in the open Simpson now on 15 watch this on almost in the hole that birdie will push Scott to seven under but a boogi at the par three 17th will drop him to a 68 for the day and six under for 36 holes now Cory paven a 10 and that birdie gets Cory to six under par for the day seven under for the championship but paven needs this putt to save par at 12 gets it he'll finish at 6 under for the day tied with his friend Scott Simpson at 138 for 36 holes good day's work for Mr paven rain has started to fall now as first round co-leader Nolan hanky begins play but hanky is hanging tough this birdie put at the first hole moves him to 6 under par and on cruise [Applause] control hanky now with a long birdie putt on the ninth look at this and that gets Nolan to even par for the day still five under through 27 holes hanky in the bunker though on 13 SL down that's one way to slow it down andrai at 12 that gets it back to five under he'll finish at 6 under 138 Payne Stewart co-leader with hanky after one round keeps Pace with this birdie putt on the second hole he's 6 under par the championship pain in the rain now in the fifth hole and he'll have that left for a birdie if he'll make to go seven under the rain has softened up Hazel team's greens and Stuart is taking advantage Stuart now with another birdie chance at seven he's got it pain Stewart with sole possession of the lead and the numbers tell the story pay Stewart three under fellow competitors Ian WAM and Greg Norman also are posting red numbers for the day Norman had gotten to one under for the day with this punt on seven but look how gingerly he moves to get his ball from the cup watch this easy to see that he's smiling through the pain as he hands his putter to the caddy Bruce edwins w turn to hit on the 8 SE Norman can no longer hide the pain not even under the big black hat what's been a mysteriously frustrating year for the great white shark won't get any better this week at Hazeltine he's forced to withdraw with an injured hip Payne Stewart has added a 200 underpar 70 to Thursday 67 to take a one-stroke lead over Nolan hanky Cory paven and Scott Simpson after 36 holes Hazel te's rain softened conditions made the course vulnerable to low scores of the 65 players who survived the cut 29 were at par or better a number of prominent players were looking within Striking Distance including Phil Mickelson the only Amer to make the cut hail Irwin and Jack Nicholas were in a group of two over not a bad score at most opens but nine Strokes back in 1991 the 36 hole cut at three overpar 147 claimed some major victims including Curtis Strange who won back-to-back open titles in 1988 and 1989 miniata Country Club was the site of the first US Open PL in Minnesota the legendary amateur Chick Evans won the 1916 championship by Two Strokes over jock Hutcherson a 40ft putt in the last green helped seal the victory for another Legend when the open returned to Minnesota at inter locken Country Club in 1930 Bobby Jones won the Third Leg of the Grand Slam making birdies on three of the last five holes to beat McDonald Smith by Two Strokes Hazel te National Golf Club was the site for the first time in 1970 England's Tony jacn won by seven strokes which still stands as the largest margin of victory since Jim Barnes won by nine Strokes in 1921 victory was sweet for the reigning British Open champion who became the first Englishman to win the US Open since Ted Ray in 1920 hazeline was a vastly different golf course in 1970 than the course for the 1991 open Totten p heiger a former president of the USGA commissioned Robert Trent Jones to design a course that would challenge the best players in the world responding to criticism Trent Jones returned shortly after the 1970 open to reroot many of the holes his son Rees put the finishing touches on what has become a Jones family Masterpiece dad is the author of Hazeltine I'm the editor um just making minor modifications for the most part the club wanted to show off uh their golf course in its best light and that's why we made the modifications that we did some of the changes made by Trent and Reese were massive and some were but all were done with a purpose to create a beautiful golf course that would be a test for the game's greatest players did they succeed Trent Jones joined s re but decided to let the course do his talking well I'm not going to say but I let the pros say they've said it was made the statement is the finest Golf Course the open has ever been played on I'll accept that you know it's everything a a major Champion should be is it's long it's the fairways are fairly generous the rough is very severe and the greens are very firm and hard and fast beautiful golf course I think it's a going to be a great Championship it's very tough and I think that uh you're going to have to really manage your game very well and play well here the golf course from a usj standpoint is set up very fair and set up difficult it's probably the most difficult Open golf course I've I've ever played on but uh uh it's not a comparison between 1970 now I mean it's it's a thousand times better Golf Course headlines in the local papers Scream With Pride the widespread criticism of Hazel te National Golf Club in 19 1970 was a tattered fading memory sun and wind had toughened the new Hazel te when Hal Irwin in the rest of the field resumed play on Saturday morning Irwin manages to save par on the 16th hole which has become particularly treacherous former British Open Champion Sandy Lyall on the second hole Lyle seems to be returning to the form that also won him a master's Green Jacket he'll have that left for a birdie Lyall now with a birdie Putt in the 10th hole and Sandy ly has reason to smile he's even par for the championship Jody mud has this long putt on the first hole and that is a birdie for Jody who started the day at one under but no smiles sh from Mr mud who knows he has a long way home and no one gets to the home hole without getting past the 16th which is playing into the wind jod has pulled that one and he's found the water hazard on the left this is Jody's fifth shot now and he's on but a triple bogey seven will leave mud back in the pack this is Craig Stadler for a par in the first hole Craig started the day at four under par but a three- putt bogey is not the way to start the third round now Stadler after a bad bunker shot has this putt for a par on the third another bogey for Craig who's on his way to a 77 Cory paven just a stroke behind Stewart at the start needs this though for a par at the third and not to be not this time now paven on the 13th and that one is going right way right and will wind up in the gallery as a marshall clears the way ball just disappears along with Cory Pen's chances he will finish the day with a 79 a par putt for Nolan hanky on three Nolan who also started the day just one stroke off the lead needs to get the pace of these greens which are much quicker than the first two days hanky now on nine that sounded a little fat and hanky's ball has found some of that 5-in rough he'll wind up with yet another bogey on route to a 77 one player who has fered is Brian cam a minur veteran who has won under par after 54 holes with shots like this one on the 11th hole you know I've been trying so so long to get into a US Open and it's been heck I've been trying since I've been probably a freshman in college 18 years old and I'm it's been 11 years 10 or 11 years trying to get the open well cam isn't the only one who appreciates the magnitude of the US Open staging a US Open is an extraordinary Enterprise it's huge when hazeline was chosen say three or four years ago they put in place 30 or 40 committees 4,000 volunteers and then they come across this week with bad weather and all sorts of complexity they adjusted it's been Sensational it's a tribute to Reed McKenzie and his committee and by the way an enormous number of wonderful Minnesota golf fans well those fans had plenty to watch on Saturday good shots and bad oh but even Freddy Couples seem to enjoy his good break on the six hole here's Fred again with a long putt on 15 has it on line oh and Freddy's face says it all can you believe this Nick price also staying in contention this putt at 18 for a birdie and Nick is two under for 54 holes Scott hul also has made a Saturday move that birdie putt on the fourth hole send Scott to six under par but hul begins to falter this is his third shot on the par four fifth hole and that one will lead to a bogey Scott Simpson with a chance for a birdie at the third hole and Scott has tied Payne Stewart for the lead Scott Simpson study and concentration now putting for the lead in the open on 13 ready as she goes what a gorgeous Putt in the hole but Scott still has the six to navigate today is the day for potential disaster there because the fact you do have to go with a long Club off the tea we've been lucky the last two days and been able to place it out there and uh that has made 16 Play Rather timidly compared to some of the other holes Simpson takes a driver for his t-shot at 16 oh you saw him slump and that will result eventually in a bogey for scottt now a five-footer for a par at 17 nope another bogey but Payne Stewart also has run into trouble this is his fourth shot on the par four fifth hole not a very good one and that'll lead to a double Bogey and a pained expression for Stewart Stuart needs this putt for a par on the six hole that's a big one an important save for pain coming off that double bogey Stewart's approach now in the par five 11th hole nicely done pay seems to have his game and his emotions under control but that 16th hole will test any man's patience pay needs this for a par a long long par unbelievable what a deal thanks indeed that has to feel like a double eagle and PNE Stewart vaults back into a tie for the lead as he leaves the 16th green Scott Simpson's Bogies on 16 and 17 and Payne Stewart's incredible par saving pun on 16 leave them tied for the lead in the US Open after 54 holes only two players hail Irwin and Nick price managed to break par that day Simpson Stewart and the rest of the world's best golfers were playing before record US Open crowds at Hazel team half the field hadn't arrived yet when more than 35,000 fans showed up for Monday's practice round Minnesota claims the highest percentage of golfers in its population of any state in the nation and it seemed that most of them came to Hazel tee despite the inclement weather for the first two days of championship play motans who live in the Land of 10,000 lakes tell mosquito stories instead of fish stories well special spraying kept the mosquito population at Bay during open week but nothing could deter the Minnesota golf fans from coming to see the world's greatest Golf Championship played in their favorite [Music] state the US Open was the biggest show and the toughest ticket in town on Sunday most of the gallery's attention was focused on the two leaders of course Payne Stewart in a uniform not many Minnesota Vikings would wear although it's their colors polishing his putting while the man with the best overall record in the last five us opens worked on his stroke and reflected on what it all meant to him I love being in the US Open you know just having a chance to even just be here and play you know that was always my dream growing up is to play in a US Open you know all the way through college uh and then to finally get out here on tour and be able to play and then to win one man it's the you know I just look forward to being here da webring in the second group on Sund gave a hint of things to come that birdie put on 12 moved da to 6 under but two Bogies coming in leave him at 68 for the day two over for the championship this birdie putt on the third hole was just about the only bright spot of the day for Bryant cam he limped home with a 79 for 294 hail Irwin who 70 on Saturday had moved in within six Strokes of the lead had this 30 on the third hole but he couldn't amount a charge to defend his title pay Stewart with this putt to save par and stay tied for the lead on the second hole ah yes just another routine ham par for the Apparently unflappable Mr Stewart Nick price who 71 Saturday had moved him up the leaderboard drove into a bunker and out of the pick on the fourth hole on Sunday ouch is right Nick will finish with a 78 Stewart on the third hole coming off that great par at the second leaving himself with a three-footer for a birdie and sole possession of the [Applause] lead up ahead Fred Couples struggling to stay close to the leaders has driven it into the trees on the sixth hole look at that nice fluid swing and what a shot look at this from there Freddy will save his par speaking of saving par Scott Simpson is trying to take a page from Payne Stewart's book and he does it Scott stays just one stroke behind Payne Stewart up on 18 former Champion Ray Floyd with a par putt that is good for a final round 68 the leaders have played five holes and pay Stewart is clinging to his one-stroke lead over Scott Simpson former champion Larry Nelson has moved to two under tied with Fred Couples the leader however has found trouble at the edge of a bunker at the sixth hole well the crowd seems to like that they're very appreciative but pay himself well he was less than pleased with that shot which will lead to a bogey and a tie for the lead on the seventh hole Scott hope putting for a birdie that one will help Scott who was four over for the first six holes Scott Simpson now with his third shot on the par five seventh hole and if he can make that putt he'll regain the lead here's Larry Nelson with a putt for a birdie on 11 and once again as is his want Larry Nelson is creeping up the leaderboard at the US Open fuzzy Zeller another former Champion also is making a move this shot on 16 will help fuzzy finish with a fine 67 the low round of the day now Stewart with his tap in for a par at seven and he's even par for the day and now that putto Simpsons could give him the lead and he has it right in the center of the cup Advantage Simpson it's Simpson by one over Stewart with Larry Nelson making a belated run of the two leaders Larry is is four under for his [Music] round Brian Cam's open Adventure Continues on the 10th hole that one is headed for the trees and a double bogey on route to 79 for Brian C Fred Couples also found some Greenery look at that for a stance and somehow manages to get that back to the Fairway it helps to be strong sometimes beautiful the Larry Nelson Sunday Saga has moved to the par three 13th this one for birdie and Nelson who was 10 under par the last two rounds when he won in 1983 is mounting another charge he's five under today and now fuzzy Zeller has reached the 72nd green perhaps fuzzy is remembering his triumphant March up the 18th Fairway at Wingfoot in 1984 deadlocked in an 18-hole playoff with Greg Norman Zeller had this 68t cross country putt on the second hole he remembers that one all right and the moment that it dropped in his 67 won by eight Strokes fuzzy now with this putt for another 67 in the open online and he has it that'll be the low round of the day fuzzy 72 whole total of 286 would win some opens but he'll have to settle for fifth this year one of the most popular figures in golf fuzzy Zeller it'll be a happy Father's Day for the Zeller family but who will celebrate a US Open victory has yet to be decided the leader Scott Simpson with an eight iron at the 10th hole down towards the lake and pin High and a birdie here stretched his lead to Two Strokes over Stewart Fred Couples has this 18-footer on 12 you know Fred seems almost casual on the golf course but you know that being too under par in the open does not come easily Payne Stewart now trailing by two with this difficult shot on the 12 and that's a gorgeous shot beautiful shot what a touch PNE will save his p and earn Cheryl Simpson's Applause Cheryl's husband Scott still leads by Two Strokes over Payne Stewart and their closest pursuers are running out of holes and time Larry Nelson lining up a 15t par putt now in 18 could be excused for letting his mind wander back to the 1983 Us open at Oakmont Country Club playing on Monday because of a rain delay the mild mannered Georgian faced a 62ft putt on the 16th hole and when that putt dropped for a birdie Nelson was off and running to the US Open title defeating the defending Champion Tom Watson by one stroke Nelson's last two rounds of 65 and 67 set a record that still stands Nelson now in 1991 for his par in the home hole and in the hole it is Larry Nelson 68 makes him the leader among those players who have completed 72 Holes his 285 turtle is three underp a well-deserved Round of Applause for Larry Nelson who seems to save his best golf for the big events Payne Stewart now needs this putt to save par on 14 and that is a very big putt for pay to stay within two Stokes of the lead a very big one hail Irwin now chipping on 17 and that's a birdie for Hail he's nine Strokes behind Scott Simpson but you can be sure he'll battle it out to the end he always has Simpson meanwhile has driven into the rough on 16 Scott may have tried to do too much with that one out of that thick 5- in Grass he's left himself with a very difficult third shot on this Par Four Hole which he has bogey two of the first three days might like to have that one back I should think Simpson's third shot now and that's tough he needed about three more feet on that one a boogi here will drop him back to seven under up ahead to Fred Couples on 18 it is in and Fred cbles finishes with a birdie and a two underpar 70 to tie Larry Nelson for third place at 285 and naturally his wife Debbie likes that one Payne Stewart trailing by one now has the honor on 17 it's right on line he very nearly hold that shot would that have been something however pay's happy with what he has and Stewart now with this putt to tie for the lead no no not quite last moment at just beard left and pay can't believe it but the numbers don't lie Scott Simpson trying to win his second US Open is one stroke ahead with a 452 yd 18th hole left to play it isn't over yet the 40,000 fans in attendance appreciate what they've seen two gallon Sportsman battling head-to-head for the most coveted title in the game Scott Simpson and pay Stewart they started the day tied for the lead and they're separated by only one stroke as they come to the green at the 72nd hole here's Payne Stewart now with a putter from The Fringe above the [Music] hole ooh didn't play quite enough break on that one leaving him about 5 ft from the hole so Cheryl Simpson watching somewhat nervously from beside the green as her husband lines up a long par butt that could win the US Open but no no he'll have that three-footer left for aogi and the pressure shifts to [Applause] pain Stewart with a five-footer to tie for the lead oh boy a smooth stroke under the toughest of conditions Payne Stewart has made 12 straight cars in The Cauldron of the fourth round of the US Open and now he must wait for Scott to decide his face short but not easy a Simpson Miss means a steuart victory Scott runs in the three-footer for a Boi that leaves the two combatants right where they started the day tied for the lead in the US Open at 600 under par Scott Simpson led by Two Strokes with three holes to play but that is ancient history what does matter is that the two friendly Rivals have finished in a tie for the lead they are two of only six players who have beaten par for 4 days at Hazel team below 15 at ties are exempt from qualifying for the 1992 open at Pebble Beach and Phil Mickelson has won his second straight gold medal as low amiter in the open now the rest of the field is Departed but Scott and Payne will have an 18-hole playoff on the newly heralded Hazel tee and its signature hole the dreaded 16th record crowd gathers for the E Straight day and watches in respectful silence as first the colorfully flamboy at paint Stewart then The Quiet Man Scott Simpson prepare for their head-to-head confrontation for the national championship of American Golf Stuart a native Missourian living in Florida and Simpson a Californian who makes home in Hawaii will decide the issue in Minnesota Simpson in a bunker on the very first hole no no no no goes well past and Scott will start with a bogey Simpson now with a par putt on the second another bogey for Scott pay Stewart is even far through four holes and leads by two now the struggling Scott Simpson with a six iron from the intermediate rough on the fifth hole nice pass out it there and he'll like the results a birdie here will get Scott back to one over par and Bane Stewart's in trouble and he doesn't get that back to the Fairway leads to a bogy the Simpson birdie and Stewart bogy on the fifth hole produce a two-stroke swing and another tie for the lead now Scott on seven with a chance to move ahead and he has it Scott Simpson by one Stewart's t- shot on the 166 yd eighth hole bad shot but watch now it looked like it hit a rock but stayed out of the water a break for pain there now let's see what he can do with his Good Fortune nicely played but unfortunately for pay that effort will go for not he'll miss that far Putt and have to settle for a bogey but it could have have been a lot worse Scott Simpson needs this butt for a par nope missed opportunity there Scott still has the lead but he could have put some real pressure on pay if he made that one both players get their par fours at the N so as they make the turn toward home it's Scott Simpson by one over Payne Stewart Simpson has this putt for par in the 10th hole and guess what we're tied again as the playoff moves to the 11th hole Stuart and Simpson are deadlocked at two overpar wind and sun and open pressure are making hazeline a memorable test for Simpson and Stewart the Hazel teen greens are firm and fast very fast as Scott Simpson learns again on this long attempt for a birdie at 13 what's that slide by the three- putt bogy gives St the lead but Stewart has left his second shot short on 14 and these greens are just as fast and treacherous whether you're putting or chipping that'll be a bogey five for pain Simpson now putting from The Fringe oh that's fast but the hole gets in the way and that's a birdie for Scott another two-stroke swing on 14 and Scott Simpson has regained the lead lead in the open but 16 16 lies ahead Payne Stewart second shot has found the rough on the far five 15th he got it up but just barely trickling on the green three putts from there add up to another bogey for Stewart now the Leader by two Scott Simpson with a one iron at the 16th th good solid swing he likes it safely in the middle of the Fairway however he'll have a long second shot into the wind meanwhile Stewart was on the right side of the Fairway here he is he'll go up and over that tree which is not as close as it looks in the picture by the way nice shot for pay and just when he needed it Simpson with a long putt for a birdie and a three-stroke lead nope that's not going to get there left it a good three ft short Stewart now with a 20-footer to pull within one stroke of Simpson that one on line all the way the first and only birdie for Payne Stewart that day and that makes Scott Simpson's putt look a whole lot longer than three feet what a putt for pain he must love 16 and that putting surface Simpson now putting to keep the lead oh no he jabbed at that one better to be careful now with this one well has his bogey but he can't believe he missed that far putt meanwhile Payne isn't asking any question he's headed for the 17th te all tied up Simpson has four bogeys in 5 days at 16 and after 88 holes the outcome of the 1991 US Open is still in out Stuart has the honor and the momentum at [Music] 17 he likes that one and well he should safely on and the pressure now shifts to Scott Simpson Scott has selected a four iron on this 182 yd hole birdie time no you can see from Scott's reaction it is hardly birdie time he has found the water a bogey would be a great score in this hole right [Applause] now Scott has a very difficult pitch over the water beautifully done though could hardly have placed it on the green much better than that really a terrific recovery [Applause] shot and pay Stewart can only kneel and wait as Scott tries to salvage a bogey from about 15 F feet does he need that and he has it but he'll still Trail by at least one stroke going to 18 Payne left his first putt short now this for Park get in it's good and we moov to 18 where Payne Stewart has a one iron playing it safe off the T safe well hardly that shot is not what he had in mind Into the Bunker can Scott take advantage of the opening no no nope that is headed for the same bunker oh it came out of the bunker that's a bad break coming into that heavy rough better to be in the bunker here than in the rough Payne Stewart surveys what lies ahead a long Fairway bunker shot to a narrow green with the flag stick tucked in the back left hand corner Big Shot well struck not a bad shot at all not on the putting surface but that's sitting up in the second cut around the green PNE has done his job you can just walk up to the green now it's Scott's turn and it's on it way a seven iron looks right on line that's a good shot coming towards the hole but took that big bounce and rolls all the way to the back Fringe just couldn't spin it out of that heavy run tough break PNE Stewart getting ready for his third shot he wants to get this close naturally to keep the pressure on Scott good one but not a gimme by anyone standards about 4 feet to the hole a possible Victory Scott Simpson will have to chip this one and he was playing to make it not get it close he's rolled it a good 8 to 10 ft by the hole when he was getting ready to putt his putt I'm saying I was telling myself he's going to make this putt you're going to have to make yours to win the golf tournament you have to make this putt you got to stand up there and be a champion and knock it in and I you know I slammed the putter down the green and and made myself concentrate to go ahead and you know knock that one in no matter what Payne told himself Scott Simpson needs to make his butt to force pain to make his you can almost feel the tension let watch this one nope just slid off for the last few inches and Payne Stewart can breathe a little easier Scott will tap this one in for a bogie [Applause] there it is Scott Simpson has had another fine Open Championship but he knows it won't be good enough this time hanne Stewart now 4 feet from his first US Open title and two shots to get it in the hole Played Like A Champion one is all he will need Payne Stewart's dream has come true he's the 1991 US Open champion a souvenir for some lucky member of the gallery a very special Father's Day hug from his daughter Chelsea and a kiss or two for white Tracy make this day complete congratulations from USDA President Grant SPI and a handshake from another open champion and true Sportsman Scott Simpson Payne Stewart is the champion but all of golf's a winner when there's this kind of competition on this kind of golf course for the record books Payne Stewart beat Scott Simpson by two strokes but there were no losers at Hazel team you know I tried as hard as I could so you know there's not not much more I can do than that and um I'm real pleased for pay uh I do admire his golf game I admire um him as a person you know he's committed to his family which I appreciate and also uh you know he's got a great attitude out there playing to be the champion is is what what I work for and what Scott works for and you know it's just too bad that that both of us couldn't be the champion because we put on a a good show it wasn't outstanding golf but the golf course was very difficult today the the greens were very firm and it uh it it tested it tested your patience it tested your ability tested your fortitude and um I'm I'm I'm fortunate to be the champion chica Minnesota home of Hazel te National Golf Club and scene of the 1991 US Open championship Pyne Stewart of Orlando Florida and Scott Simpson of kyua Hawaii play off for the national title of the United States Stewart's long putt for a birdie on the dreaded 16th hole and Simpsons three putt on the same hole even the score Stewart took the lead for good when Simpson hit his ball into the drink on 17 and then Stuart ended it with a par at 18 PNE Stewart is the 1991 US Open champion [Music]