In 1999: Payne Stewart sinks a dramatic 25-foot par putt to win the U.S Open at Pinehurst no. 2 in North Carolina. On a misty Sunday afternoon, Stewart held off Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods with a one-under 279. Stewart’s putt capped off one of the most memorable finishes in golf history. Mickelson, who had been up one with three to play, now needed to make par to force a playoff, but bogeyed the 72nd hole. Stewart leaned forward, pumped his fist in the air and kicked his right leg back in celebration as the putt disappeared into the hole for his second national golf championship. Sadly, it would turn out to be Stewart’s last hurrah, as he tragically died in a plane crash later that year. His winning moment was immortalized in a statue at Pinehurst.
In 1982 Tom Watson defeats Jack Nicklaus with a stunning birdie chip on the 17th hole at the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach. Watson, always known for coming close but not winning the U.S. Open, was tied for the lead with Nicklaus going into 17. With Nicklaus safely on the green and Watson in the rough, it looked liked the Golden Bear was in the driver’s seat for his fifth Open title. A confident Watson felt that he could make it and rolled the chip in for a birdie and a one-shot lead. He then birdied 18 to take his first and only national title by two strokes.
