Tags: Hockey KHL NHL Pavol Demitra Plane Crash Tragic Death Tragedy struck yesterday when the passenger plane carrying Russian hockey team Lokomotiv of the KHL (Kontinental Hockey League) crashed just after take-off, killing 43 people. Added to the growing list of prominent athletes whose lives were cut short were former NHL players Pavol Demitra and Brad McCrimmon, the team’s coach. Sadly, this was hardly the first time prominent people from the world of sports have lost their lives in such a fashion. Since the dawn of commercial aviation, hardly a decade has gone by without one or two notable athletes being killed in a plane crash. So today, as a tribute to all these fallen stars, we present a chronological list of athletes killed in plane crashes. 13. Knute Rockne (1931) Legendary Notre Dame football coach Knute Rockne—who helped make the game of football what it is today—was one of 8 people who died when TWA Flight 599 out of Kansas City crashed on March 31, 1931.

He had just visited his two sons (Bill and Knute Jr.) at their boarding school and was on his way to consult on the production of the film The Spirit of Notre Dame. At the time of his death, his record as coach of the Fighting Irish was an absurd 105 wins, 12 losses, and 5 ties. 12. Torino FC Soccer Team (1949) Torino FC were the champions of Italy’s Serie A soccer league in 1948-49, and are considered by some to have been one of the best clubs in the history of Italian soccer. Their captain, Valentino Mazzola, was one of the best players in the world. So you can imagine the enormity of the public’s grief after 22 of the team’s 23 players were killed when their plane crashed into a mountain outside Turin. The only player whose life was spared was not on the flight because he was injured and not traveling with the team. 11. Bill Barilko (1951) On April 21, 1951, defenseman Bill Barilko of the Toronto Maple Leafs accomplished what every hockey-playing kid in the world dreams about every night.

That night, in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup finals against the Montreal Canadiens, Barilko scored the overtime goal that won the cup for Toronto. Tragically, only four months later Barilko died in a plane crash on his way home from a fishing trip if rural Quebec. 10. 8 Members of Manchester United (1958) On February 6, 1958, British Airways Flight 609 traveling from Belgrade, Yugoslavia to Manchester, England, crashed while attempting to take off from a slush-covered runway in Munich, Germany, where it had stopped to refuel. Twenty-three of the forty-four people on board died, including 8 members of the 1957-58 Manchester United squad. Among English soccer fans, the incident became known as the “Munich air disaster.” The tragedy is memorialized by a plaque hanging today at Man U’s famous Old Trafford stadium. 9. U.S. Figure Skating Team (1961) On February 16, 1961, the United States sporting community experienced one of the most horrific tragedies one could imagine. The entire U.S.

Figure Skating Team perished when their Boeing 707 crashed on its approach to Brussels’ Zaventem Airport. They were on their way to compete in the World Championships in Prague, Czechoslovakia. Among those killed were 9-time U.S. women’s champion Maribel Vinson-Owen, reigning women’s champion Laurence Owen, and men’s champion Bradley Lord. 8. Tony Lema (1966) Tony Lema was one of modern golf’s brightest stars in the early 60s. He won the 1964 British Open, 12 PGA Tour tournaments, and finished in the top-10 of another eight major tournaments. He became famous not only for his success, but also for his exuberant celebrations after a big win. (They called him “Champagne Tony Lema.”) Sadly, he died at the very young age of 32, when a private plane he had chartered crashed—where else?—onto a golf course. 7.

36 Marshall University Football Players (1970) On November 14, 1970, half of Marshall University’s football team was killed when their plane, flying through rain and fog, clipped the top of a tree and crashed just short of its runway in West Virginia. This terrible tragedy and its aftermath were the subjects of the 2006 film, We Are Marshall. 6. Old Christians Rugy Union Club (1972) This is another plane crash memorialized by a film. In this case, the film would be 1993’s Alive, which tells the story of Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571. The plane, which was carrying 40 members of the Old Christians rugby club from Montevido, Uruguay, crashed high up in the Andes mountains, killing 16 people immediately. Search and rescue crews were unable to find the wreckage, and another 13 died as a result of the harsh conditions. Finally, more than two months after the crash, 16 survivors were rescued on December 23, 1972.

Of course, this incident is most famous for the stories of how survivors resorted to cannibalizing the dead in order to survive. 5. Roberto Clemente (1972) Roberto Clemente of the Pittsburgh Pirates was a fantastic baseball player and, somehow, an even better human being. He died on December 31, 1972, when the plane he was using to bring supplies to victims of a Nicaraguan earthquake crashed in the Caribbean. The only reason he was even on the flight was because previous shipments had been stolen by corrupt government officials, so he wanted to personally make sure the supplies actually got to those in need. 4. University of Evansville Men’s Basketball Team (1977) 1977 was to be the University of Evansville Purple Aces’ first season in Division I athletics. Sadly, the men’s basketball never completed its first season. On December 13, their chartered DC-3 crashed in a field near the Evansville Regional Airport, killing the entire team and its coaching staff. 3.

18 Members of the Zambian National Soccer Team (1993) The entire Zambian national soccer team—18 players and 5 team officials—died on April 28, 1993. They were on their way to a World Cup qualifying match against Senegal when their plane crashed into the Atlantic just off the coast of Libreville, Gabon. An investigation concluded the cause of the crash was pilot error. 2. Payne Stewart (1999) On October 25, 1999, just four months after winning his second U.S. Open Championship, Payne Stewart died in a freak plane crash. The Learjet he was taking from Orlando to Dallas lost cabin pressure mid-flight, and the pilots and passengers all died from hypoxia (i.e., oxygen deprivation). The jet veered way off course, but remained aloft (thanks to autopilot) until it ran out of fuel and crashed in North Dakota. Stewart was one of the most well-liked guys on the PGA Tour throughout the 90s, so his death really shook the world of golf. 1.

Lokomotiv Hockey Team (2011) September 7, 2011, was one of the worst days in the history of pro hockey. Over 40 people died when a Yak-42 aircraft crashed into a river bank near Yaroslavl, Russia. The plane was carrying the Lokomotiv hockey team of the KHL to its first game of the season in Minsk, Belarus. All but one of the team’s players died in the crash, including Slovakian forward Pavol Demitra, 36; Czechs Jan Marek, 31, Karel Rachunek, 32, and Joseph Vasicek, 30; Swedish goalkeeper Stefan Liv, 30; and Canadian coach and former NHL defenseman Brad McCrimmon, 52. U.S. Open Preview - Golf Monthly Golf Monthly 0shares 0shares The world’s top players are in North Carolina this week for the year’s second Major Championship. England’s Justin Rose will defend his US Open title over the fabulous Pinehurst No. 2 course. Justin Rose defends U.S.

Open Credit: Getty Images TAGS: Justin Rose Lowdown: The world’s top players are in North Carolina this week for the year’s second Major Championship. England’s Justin Rose will defend his US Open title over the fabulous Pinehurst No. 2 course. 156 professionals and amateurs will tee it up this Thursday as they look to claim the 114th US Open. Players have qualified by a wide range of routes: from those exempt because of World Ranking or previous performances, to those who have made it through sectional, regional or international qualifiers. A strong contingent from Europe will be aiming to make it four European victories from five U.S. Opens this decade. Graeme McDowell won at Pebble Beach in 2010, then Rory McIlroy at Congressional in 2011 and Justin Rose at Merion last year. All three will be hoping to secure victory again this season and they’ll be joined by the likes of Lee Westwood, Luke Donald, Ian Poulter, Stephen Gallacher, Victor Dubuisson, Martin Kaymer, Shane Lowry and Joost Luiten. 2013 U.S.

Amateur Champion Matthew Fitzpatrick from England will also tee it up in what will likely be his last event as an amateur. Established in 1895, Pinehurst is one of America’s most historic golfing facilities. Founded by James W. Tufts, the resort is known for the work of prolific course designer Donald Ross. The Scot arrived at Pinehurst at Tuft’s behest, at the very end of the 19th century. Ross was involved in a re-design of the first course at Pinehurst, but his masterpiece was Pinehurst No. 2. Although he completed the design in 1907, he continued to make alterations to the layout until his death in 1948. Host to the 1936 PGA Championship, the Ryder Cup of 1951 and the U.S. Opens of 1999 and 2005, this is one of the USA’s very best courses. Routed between the pines and sand-hills, it’s a superb test of golf with a selection of highly memorable holes. The greens are fantastic, yet with most crowned and heavily undulating, they provide a serious examination of the short game.

Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw recently completed a re-design of Pinehurst No.2. Although they’ve stretched the layout to beyond 7,500 yards, their re-working has been highly sympathetic to the original Donald Ross creation. Unusually for a U.S. Open course, there’s no rough at Pinehurst, just expanses of sand and earth, covered with exposed tree roots and natural ruts. In 1999 Payne Stewart secured victory at Pinehurst, beating Phil Mickelson into second place. Stewart birdied the 17th hole before holing a 15-foot putt on the final green to win by a stroke. Stewart’s celebration, with his right arm and leg outstretched, has become one of the most iconic images in golfing history. Stewart was unable to defend his U.S. Open title the following year as he was tragically killed in a plane crash later that year. Michael Campbell was the winner at Pinehurst in 2005. The New Zealander held off Tiger Woods to win by two shots and claim his only Major title. Last season at Merion, England’s Justin Rose produced four solid rounds to win by two from Jason Day and Phil Mickelson.

The American had led going into the final day but could only manage a final round 74. It was his sixth runner-up finish in the U.S. Open. “I felt like this was as good an opportunity I could ask for and to not get it … it hurts.” Rose is looking forward to defending his title and is hoping to become the first man to win back-to-back U.S. Opens since Curtis Strange achieved the feat in the last two years of the 1980s. “The records show that the U.S. Open is the hardest Major to defend and I think that’s because the venues can be so different from year to year,” he said. “But I don’t really feel I have to rely on the course to suit me – my game is good enough to give me the chance to win anywhere.” The weather this week looks like being rather unpredictable with a high chance of thunderstorms. Don’t be surprised if there are some delays to play during the four days. Venue: Pinehurst No.

2, Pinehurst, North Carolina Date: Jun 12-15 Course stats: par 70, 7,562 yards Purse: $8,000,000 Winner: $1,440,000 Defending Champion: Justin Rose (+1) TV Coverage: Thursday 12 – Sky Sports 4 from 2pm Friday 13 – Sky Sports 4 from 2pm Saturday 14 – Sky Sports 4 from 5pm Sunday 15 – Sky Sports 4 from 5pm Player Watch: Phil Mickelson – Second to Payne Stewart at Pinehurst in 1999, Mickelson has six runner-up finishes in the U.S. Open. His short game genius could be a telling factor this week. Jason Day – The Australian is a proven Major performer and has twice been runner-up in the U.S. Open. He hits it long and high and that’s important around Pinehurst No. 2. Hideki Matsuyama – He won at Memorial two weeks ago and was tied 10th in his first U.S. Open last season. He has a solid all-round game but is particularly good at scrambling.

That will serve him well. Jason Dufner – Another solid performer in Majors and the U.S. Open in particular, he’s been tied fourth in each of the last two seasons. He lost a playoff at Colonial three weeks ago. Shane Lowry – The Irishman has been on good form, finishing second in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth. He has a superb short game and that will be a key to success at Pinehurst. Jimmy Walker – The FedEx Cup leader has won three times this season and was tied eighth at the Masters. He was also tied sixth at The Players and tied 10th in his last start at Colonial. Key hole: 16th. A par-5 of only 528 yards, this is a great chance to make up ground coming down the stretch. It’s a dog-leg to the left that will play pretty short if players can find the downslope on the left side of the fairway. The green slopes back to front which will help players to hold their second shot on the green. However, a putt from back to front could be deadly fast. Skills Required: Scrambling. As always in the U.S.

Open the greens will be difficult to find in regulation so the ability to get up-and-down from tricky spots around the putting surfaces will be key to success this week. Latest News 25 Athletes Who Died Before Their Careers Were Over 25 Athletes Who Died Before Their Careers Were Over By Renae Juska Athletes Who Died Way Too Soon Getty Images Every year there is at least one sport that faces the death of an athlete. I’m not referring to those who have retired and grown old, but rather players who are still in the leagues when they suddenly pass away. On this list, we've included star athletes who were suddenly taken from us as well as athletes who could have became stars if their careers hadn't ended in tragedy. Sean Taylor Sean Taylor Getty Images Taylor was the fifth overall pick in the 20014 NFL Draft by the Redskins. While away from his home on Nov. 18, 2007, his house was burglarized. Eight days later, an intruder entered his home and shot him in the leg. The bullet his his femoral artery and he lost a significant amount of blood.

He was airlifted to a hospital for surgery, but entered a coma due to the massive amount of blood loss and died the next afternoon. Thurman Munson Thurman Munson Getty Images After winning two World Series and three Gold Gloves, Munson considered retiring due to homesickness, but instead took flying lessons so he could visit his family more often. After two years of lessons, he was practicing at the Akron-Canton Airport in 1979 and sunk took low while attempting to land. He clipped a tree, missed the runway and burst into flames. His friend Jerry Anderson and flight instructor Dave Hall both survived the crash. Ben Wilson Ben Wilson Facebook At 17 in 1984, Wilson played for nationally recognized basketball school Simeon Career Academy in Chicago. He was arguing with his girlfriend on the campus when he accidentally bumped into another student from a different school carrying a gun. The two got into a dispute over the contact and Wilson was shot twice. Wilson died after unsuccessful surgery the next day. He was considered the top basketball recruit in the nation at the time. Chris Street Chris Street Getty Images After an Iowa basketball team dinner on Jan.

19, 1983, Street's car collided with a snow plow and he was killed instantly. During his last game, he set a school record with 34 consecutive made free throws, and he was projected to be a first-round pick in the NBA Draft. His No. 40 is the only number retired by the Iowa men's basketball team. Dale Earnhardt Dale Earnhardt Getty Images During the final lap of the Daytona 500 in 2001, Earnhardt's car was turned from behind and he went nose-first into a concrete wall. His car hit Kevin Schrader's and then slid off the track into the grass. Schrader called for help, Earnhardt was pulled from the car and rushed to Halifax Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. With 76 wins and seven championships, he's considered one of the greatest NASCAR drivers of all time. Brian Piccolo Brian Piccolo Brian Piccolo During a game with the Bears in 1969, Piccolo asked to come out of the game because he was having difficulty breathing. He went to a doctor after the game and was diagnosed with embryonal cell carcinoma.

His initial surgery was the remove the tumor but he ultimately had to have his left lung and pectoral removed as well. Even so, the surgeries were unsuccessful and he died eight months later from the cancer. Lou Gehrig Lou Gehrig Getty Images Gehrig's career with the Yankees was cut short because of ALS, which is now commonly referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease. It's a neuromuscular condition that causes motor systems of the central nervous system to deteriorate while the mind stays fully functional. Gehrig died two years after his diagnosis with a then-record 2,130 consecutive games played. Drazen Petrovic Drazen Petrovic Getty Images Petrovic was a stellar NBA shooting guard for the Nets and was a dedicated member of his native Croatia's national team. While traveling with friends in Germany, he was a passenger in an automobile accident when the car in which he was traveling collided with a truck. He died instantly while the other passengers all lived. Darryl Kile Darryl Kile Getty Images Two hours before a game at Wrigley Field against the Cubs, Kile was found dead in his hotel room.

The cause of Kile's death was determined to be atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), which led to a heart attack. Some thought he might have died from drugs or alcohol, but toxicology reports proved otherwise. The only thing that came back was marijuana, which he had smoked several weeks before his death. Hank Gathers Hank Gathers Facebook Gathers collapsed at the free throw line in December 1989 and was diagnosed with exercise-induced ventricular tachycardia (abnormal heartbeat). The medication for this affected his athletic ability, so he cut back on his dosage and collapsed on the court again in March 1990 and stopped breathing. He was announced dead on arrival after being transported to a nearby hospital. Gathers was the NCAA scoring and rebounding champ that year. Chuck Hughes Chuck Hughes Getty Images Hughes is the only NFL player to die on the field during a game. When running to the Lions' huddle, Hughes collapsed. Everyone thought he was faking it until the Bears' Dick Butkus waved for help. Hughes died because of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), which caused a blood clot.

During a previous hospitalization at Henry Ford Hospital, doctors failed to diagnose his illness and his widow filed a lawsuit for malpractice. Caleb Moore Caleb Moore Facebook At the X-Games in January 2013, Moore was attempting a backflip when the skis of his snowmobile caught the grand as he was about to land and he crashed. He was hit by the snowmobile in the process and walked away, but was taken to a hospital and had to have surgery due to excessive bleeding around his heart. This caused him to go brain dead after the surgery and he was pronounced dead a week later. Bill Masterton Bill Masterton Getty Images Masterson is the only NHL player to die from an injury that occurred on the ice. While playing for the Minnesota North Stars in 1968, Masterson was knocked backward on his head by two Oakland Seals players and, at this time, most hockey players didn't wear helmets. Doctors decided that surgery would be fatal and his family pulled the plug the next day. It's believed that brain trauma from a previous hit expedited Masterson's death.

Ed Sanders Ed Sanders Facebook During a New England heavyweight fight in 1954, Willie James landed a fatal punch on Sanders in the 11th round. He lost consciousness on impact and it was never regained. Doctors attempted to relieve a blood clot i his brain but Sanders died 18 hours later. This came just two years after Sanders won the gold medal in the heavyweight division at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics. Reggie Lewis Reggie Lewis Getty Images Lewis died of sudden cardiac death during an offseason practice in 1993. He had symptoms of heart problems for a few months preceding his death but they didn't stop him from playing. The doctors determined he had hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which is now the leading cause of death for young athletes. Some doctors said his history of cocaine use attributed to his death while others say he had a common cold at the time. Sarah Burke Sarah Burke Facebook Burke crashed during a training run on the super pipe in Salt Lake City on Jan. 10, 2012. She suffered irreversible damage to the brain due to lack of oxygen and blood after cardiac arrest on the slope.

Before that, she was a six-time X-Games champion in the super pipe and convinced the International Olympic Committee to hold the super pipe event for the upcoming 2014 Winter Olympics. She would have been the favorite to win gold in the event. Payne Stewart Payne Stewart Getty Images After winning 11 PGA Tour events, including three majors, Stewart was killed in a plane accident in 1999. On a flight from Orlando to Dallas, the plane depressurized unexpectedly, all the passengers became unconscious and the plane ran on autopilot until running out of gas in South Dakota. It was later concluded everyone on board died of hypoxia as only a few seconds without an oxygen mask could cause incapacitation. Ray Chapman Ray Chapman Getty Images In a 1920 game against the Yankees, Chapman was batting and took a pitch to the head from Carl Mays. Some witnesses say he took a few steps while most say he immediately fell the ground. Regardless, he was taken to a hospital and died 12 hours later. After this event, MLB required home plate umpires to wear helmets. And to this day, Chapman is the only MLB player to die from being hit by a pitch.

Roberto Clemente Roberto Clemente Getty Images A 12-time Gold Glove winner and former MVP, Clemente was one of the most beloved players in baseball. While doing charity work in Nicaragua for emergency relief after an earthquake, an airplane he boarded crashed into the ocean because it was overloaded with supplies. Clemente was 38 and still had some game left in him. Joe Roth Joe Roth Facebook Roth played football for California in the mid-1970s before his death. At the end of the '76 season, he announced to the team he had been playing with a recurring condition of melanoma cancer. Even after that, he played in the Hulu and Japan Bowls because he was dedicated to football. He died about a month after the Japan Bowl. Roth was expected to be a top pick in the NFL Draft and is the only Cal player to have his jersey retired. Steve Prefontaine Steve Prefontaine Getty Images The man commonly known as just "Pre" is arguably the most famous track funner of all time.

The guy broke record after record, but died at his peak in 1975 at the age of 24 after he was driving home from a party and his car flipped after hitting a rock wall. Jasper Howard Jasper Howard Getty Images After the UConn football team defeated Louisville in their 2009 homecoming game, they celebrated at an on-campus dance. During the dance, Howard was found stabbed to death outside the student union where the dance was held. Four people were arrested for connection to Howard's death. Howard was the first person in his family to attend college and recorded a game-changing fumble recovery in the game on the night of his death. Len Bias Len Bias Facebook Bias was expected to be the next big NBA superstar coming out of college, but things took a turn for the worse after he overdosed on cocaine and suffered a seizure. He died just two days after he was selected No. 2 overall in the NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics. Derrick Thomas Derrick Thomas Getty Images Thomas was a Pro Bowl linebacker and defensive end for the Kansas City Chiefs when his life was cut short following a car accident that left him paralyzed form the chest down. He then suffered a pulmonary embolism that developed in his paralyzed lower body.

Pat Tillman Pat Tillman Getty Images Tillman is an American hero, enlisting for the U.S. Army after he turned down a three-year, .6 million deal from the Arizona Cardinals. He was in the NFL for three seasons form 1998-2001, but enlisted after the 2001 season. Tillman was the victim of friendly fire and died in 2004 at the age of 27. Payne Stewart - Factbites CNN/SI - PGA Golf - Payne Stewart killed in S.D. plane crash - Tuesday October 26, 1999 03:13 AM Stewart's wife, Tracey, an Australian native, tried to reach her husband on his cellular phone while she followed the drama on television, her brother said. Stewart, 42, was one of the most recognizable players in golf because he wore traditional knickers and a tam-o'-shanter hat. Stewart was on his way to Texas, first for a meeting on a proposed golf course near Dallas, then on to the Tour Championship in Houston for the top 30 on the PGA Tour's money list.

sportsillustrated.cnn.com /golf/pga/news/1999/10/25/stewart_plane_ap (1287 words) Payne Stewart Stewart, who played golf at Southern Methodist University before beginning his successful professional career in 1979, was en route from his home in Orlando to Houston, site of this week's Tour Championship. Stewart was among the best-known players on the professional tour, in large part because of his distinctive sartorial style. Stewart and his party was operated and managed by Sunjet Aviation of Stanford, Fla. It was manufactured in 1976 and had made roughly 7,500 flights, company officials said. /991026dallasmorningnews (1719 words) Payne Stewart Memorial Page (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-08) Among the dead were Stewart, two of his agents, the two pilots, and a world-renowned golf course designer. Payne Stewart was my favorite golfer on the PGA Tour . I have many fond memories of watching Stewart play on many of his 18 tournament wins, 11 of which were on the PGA Tour .

/yt/crush/payne.html (272 words) CNN - Investigators arrive at Payne Stewart crash site - October 25, 1999 Jerri Gibbs of Leader Enterprises of Orlando , the firm which chartered the Learjet 35, confirmed that Stewart as well as Robert Fraley and Van Ardan, officers of Leader who acted as agents for Stewart, were aboard the plane. Stewart, 42, easily identified on the links by his patented knickers and tam-o'-shanter hat, had 11 PGA victories spanning 17 years, including the 1991 and 1999 U.S. Open Championships. Stewart, who lived in Orlando , had been expected in Houston on Tuesday for practice rounds in advance of the Tour Championship, the PGA Tour's final tournament of the year for the top 30 players on its money list.

/US/9910/25/wayward.jet.07 (1200 words) Top players lead Payne Stewart tribute In a gripping service at a church where Stewart finally found peace, he was remembered above all for his passion, for his wife and two children, for the three major championships he won, for the Ryder Cup team he would have captained and for the game that made him such an endearing figure. A party is what Tracey Stewart wanted for her 42-year-old husband, who was among six people killed on Monday when his Learjet flew uncontrolled across the country before crashing into a field in South Dakota. Stewart won his first U.S. Open in 1991, beating Scott Simpson in an 18-hole playoff at Hazeltine in Minnesota, then again in June with his historic putt at Pinehurst No. 2 in North Carolina. /news/yeartodate/news99/stewart14.html (1056 words) ABCNEWS.com : Payne Stewart Dead After Runaway Jet Crashes Stewart, 42, was one of the most recognizable players in golf because of his trademark knickers and tam-o’-shanter.

Even before Payne Stewart’s involvement made this plane crash a major story, your attention might have been grabbed by the news that Air Force fighter jets pursued the Learjet for hours before it went down. As with the Stewart crash, it was speculated that depressurization caused the deaths of Rein and his pilot, long before their plane ran out of fuel and plunged into the sea off the Virginia coast. emperors-clothes.com /9-11backups/abclearjet.htm (1582 words) World Golf Hall of Fame Member Profile Payne Stewart donated his entire first-place check for winning the 1987 Bay Hill Invitational to an area hospital in memory of his father. Competing for his country fueled Stewart's competitive nature, yet he was the soul of sportsmanship, too, when he graciously conceded his singles match to Colin Montgomerie on the 18th green at Brookline C.C. after the U.S. had won. On Oct. 25, 1999 , Stewart's life was tragically cut short in a private plane crash near Aberdeen, S. The words of respect and admiration for Stewart started soon after as word of his death spread.

/hof/member.php?member=1109 (625 words) Golf Pictures Payne Stewart, Golf Memorabilia Payne Stewart proudly displays his trophy at the 1999 U.S. Open at Hazeltine National Golf Course, in Minnesota. Payne Stewart screams in celebration after making the winning putt on the 18th hole at Pinehurst #2 to capture his second U.S. Open Championship. Photo History: The tragic death of Payne Stewart cut short a career in which Payne was at the very pinnacle of his career, recently having won the 1999 U.S. Open at Pinehurst. /ptm/payne_stewart_photo.htm (1141 words) Washingtonpost.com: Golfer Payne Stewart Dies in Jet Crash Stewart, a two-time U.S. Open champion, was scheduled to play later this week in the PGA Championship in Houston, the tour's final event of the year. Stewart, 42, won his first major PGA championship in 1989 and his first U.S. Open two years later. Stewart is survived by his wife, Tracey Ferguson, a daughter, Chelsea, 13, and a son, Aaron, 10.

/wp-srv/national/daily/oct99/crash26.htm (1128 words) Payne Stewart tribute - PGATOUR.COM (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-08) Two-time U.S. Open champion Payne Stewart died Monday, October 25, 1999 , in a tragic plane crash in rural South Dakota. Stewart was en route from Orlando to Texas for THE TOUR Championship. Stewart, 42, is survived by his wife Tracey, daughter Chelsea and son, Aaron. /u/ce/feature/pgatour/0,1977,1510056,00.html (264 words) PGA.com's Pike: Stewart and Pinehurst linked forever in history A bronze statue at Pinehurst memorializes Payne Stewart's famous fist-pump of 1999 . It was the flamboyant Missourian's winding 15-foot putt on the 18th hole of the 1999 U.S. Open that secured his second U.S. Open victory, his bond with Donald Ross' beloved course and his legacy.

Stewart, the 1989 PGA Champion, died four months later on Oct. 25 at the age of 42 in a plane crash. /news/majors/usopen/2005/spike_stewart061505.cfm (842 words) Amazon.com: Payne Stewart: The Authorized Biography: Books: Tracey Stewart,Ken Abraham (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-08) So are the various scriptures and devotionals Stewart relied on, the joys he felt in coaching his son's soccer team, his wrenching loss at the '98 Open, and the tears of relief he shed when he won at Pebble Beach--and, of course, Pinehurst--a year later. Tracey Stewart is the ultimate Payne Stewart fan and she celebrates his life through every page. Payne was a great golfer and a great man that many could learn from.

/Payne-Stewart-Authorized-Biography-Tracey/dp/0805423966 (1713 words) CNN.com - US - Payne Stewart jet had cabin pressure trouble - September 27, 2000 Aviation authorities and the military tracked Stewart's jet for four hours before it crashed, trying to determine why no one appeared to be in control of the aircraft, which was flying on autopilot. With his traditional knickers and tam-o'-shanter hat, Stewart, 42, was one of the most recognizable players in golf . There was some concern the valve may not have been on, but tests contained in the report conclude the valve as recovered from the wreckage was able to pass oxygen. archives.cnn.com /2000/US/09/27/payne.stewart.01/index.html (757 words) Payne Stewart Award - Our Community - Southern Company (Site not responding.

Last check: 2007-10-08) In 2000, one year after the tragic loss of Payne Stewart in a plane crash, Southern Company and the PGA TOUR Policy Board created and funded a special grant to perpetuate Stewart's personality and values. The Payne Stewart Award is presented annually to a player sharing Stewart's respect for the traditions of the game, his commitment to uphold the game's heritage of charitable support and his professional and meticulous presentation of himself and the sport through his dress and conduct. It is presented annually to a player sharing Stewart’s respect for the traditions of the game, his commitment to uphold the game’s heritage of charitable support and his professional and meticulous presentation of himself and the sport through his dress and conduct. southerncompany.com /community/paynestewartaward.asp?mnuOpco=soco&... (566 words) Payne Stewart - WorkplaceMinistry.com (via CobWeb/3.1 planetlab1.tamu.edu) (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-08) After winning the 1999 U.S.

Open with such fortitude and grace, Payne Stewart was quickly known to be one of the best golfers to walk the green. Stewart surely received this widely-held distinction because of his skill as a golfer , but the magnitude of his heart sealed it for those who’d seen him in action. With the help of veteran sports writer Ken Abraham, Payne’s wife Tracey Stewart has recounted his life and the strength of his faith in God in a new book entitled Payne Stewart: The Authorized Biography. /WorkplaceMinistry/spotlight.asp?sid=18 (162 words) Payne Stewart Award - Our Community - Southern Company (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-08) The Payne Stewart Award was created by the PGA TOUR Policy Board to perpetuate Stewart’s memory. The inaugural Payne Stewart Award was presented in 2000 to Byron Nelson, Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer. In addition to a sculpture presented to the recipient, the Payne Stewart Award is accompanied by an annual Payne Stewart Award Grant presented by Southern Company. /community/paynestewartaward.asp?mnuOpco=soco&mnuType=sub&mnuItem=oc (566 words) Payne Stewart's final U.S.

Open (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-08) Stewart manages to shoot 69 and move into a tie with Mickelson and Duval at 3-under 137. Stewart shoots 72, yet finds himself alone atop the leader board when the day ends. He drains a 25-foot putt for par at No. 16, takes the lead with a 3-footer for birdie at 17 and then closes out Mickelson with a 15-foot putt for par at 18 to win his third major championship. /pg/05163/520113.stm (233 words) Payne Stewart Victory Celebration Photo & Bracelet (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-08) Payne Stewart's historic 1999 U.S. Open photo framed together with a replica of his W.W.J.D. bracelet. The W.W.J.D. bracelet worn by legendary professional golfer , Payne Stewart, was one of the few things that survived the tragic plane crash that took Payne’s life. It was after his dramatic victory at the 1999 U.S.

Open that he made it known to the world that God had been a most important part of his life, proclaiming, “I’ve got to give thanks to the Lord for giving me the ability to believe in myself. /Art_Stewart_Bracelet.htm (299 words) CNN.com - US - FAA makes public audio tapes from Payne Stewart crash - April 5, 2000 Their repeated attempts to reach the pilot -- and requests for other aircraft to try to raise the flight -- are heard on three hours of audio tape made public Wednesday by the Federal Aviation Administration. Also killed in the crash were Stewart's agents, Robert Fraley and Van Ardan; the two pilots, Michael Kling, 43, and Stephanie Bellegarrigue, 27; and 40-year-old golf course designer Bruce Borland. The FAA has reported that Stewart's plane climbed as high as 51,000 feet during its flight across the nation's heartland.

edition.cnn.com /2000/US/04/05/payne.stewart.tapes.02 (705 words) Payne Stewart participated in the following events as an activeparticipant: On board is champion golfer Payne Stewart, along with five others. It is believed the accident is due to a loss of cabin pressure at high altitude, which would have caused all on board to go unconscious from lack of oxygen. /entity.jsp?id=1521846767-4906 (664 words) Brad Faxon wins Payne Stewart Award Faxon, recovering from Sept. 13 knee surgery that ended his season, was honored Wednesday at the Tour Championship with the Payne Stewart Award, given to players who show respect for golf's traditions by the way they handle themselves and their charity work. Stewart, who died in a plane crash in 1999 , four months after winning his second U.S. Open, was one of the most recognizable figures on the PGA Tour with his knickers and tam o'shanter cap.

Faxon is an eight-time winner on the PGA Tour , his last victory coming in August at the Buick Championship in Hartford when he closed with a 61 and won in a playoff. /news/1132005/brad-faxon-wins-payne-stewart-award.htm (632 words) Payne Stewart - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia This was a response to a remark that Peter Alliss, who covers sports for ABC in Europe, had made earlier that day to the Daily Telegraph , which quoted him as saying, “Americans might as well be Chinese. On October 25, 1999 , a month after the American team rallied to win the 1999 Ryder Cup in Brookline, Massachusetts , Stewart was killed while travelling on a Lear Jet from Orlando to Texas. Stewart was survived by his widow, Tracey, a native of Rockhampton , Australia, daughter Chelsea, a student at Clemson University, and son Aaron, beginning college at Payne's Alma mater of SMU in the fall of 2007 on a golf scholarship.

en.wikipedia.org /wiki/Payne_Stewart (823 words) Payne Stewart In the Stewart case, as we’ve seen, there was a 10 minute gap between the initial problem being observed (ATC getting no radio response) and a decision being made that contact was lost. An intercept didn’t begin for another 24 minutes, and if planes were scrambled from the ground then that could have taken longer: fighters are typically on 15 minute alert, but we’ll be generous and say it took 5. The Stewart case simply doesn’t support the idea that the 9/11 flights should have been intercepted, then: in fact, quite the opposite. /html/payne_stewart.html (1106 words)

Question: Which American golfer, winner of three majors, was tragically killed in a plane crash in 1999? At the time of his death, he was the reigning U.S. Open champion?
Answer: PAYNE STEWART