Hours after producing one of the most dramatic victories in U.S. Open history, a jovial Payne Stewart was celebrating his triumph in the Mebane, N.C., home of longtime caddie Mike Hicks. The now three-time major champion could have easily hopped on a private jet and returned to his Orlando, Fla., residence, or stayed in the Village of Pinehurst to privately celebrate the one-stroke victory over Phil Mickelson with close friends and family.
Nobody, including Hicks, would have raised an eyebrow had Stewart reneged on a promise to play in his caddie’s charity outing for North Carolina Children’s Hospital, an event that also featured major champions Fred Couples, Paul Azinger and Hal Sutton and raised more than $50,000.