THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, July 13, 1995 TAG: 9507130514
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: WILLIAMSBURG LENGTH: Long : 138 lines
If Payne Stewart is to wear the stars and stripes again at this year's Ryder Cup matches, it's time he hitched up his trademark knickers and made a mad dash.
He'll play four more tournaments before the team is announced. He has 10 players to pass on the Ryder Cup points list for an automatic berth.
The final quest begins today at 12:32 p.m. when he tees off at the 10th hole in the opening round of the Anheuser-Busch Golf Classic. The $1.1 million event runs through Sunday at Kingsmill's River Course.
``My wife said, `Payne, if you don't make it, you don't make it. It's a stress-packed week anyway. We'll sit at home and have some fun,' '' Stewart said.
He then paused.
``I don't want to cross that bridge until I have to.''
Which is one reason Stewart is here for the first time in five years. While many of his elite peers are overseas preparing for next week's British Open, Stewart will be chasing the 150 Ryder Cup points that go to the Anheuser-Busch winner.
A victory would vault him past Kenny Perry, who currently resides in the the No. 10 slot on the list, the cutoff for an automatic berth.
In years past, Stewart has played in the Scottish Open as a prelude to the British Open. He loves the Carnoustie course where the Scottish is played, too.
``But even if I won the Scottish, it wouldn't do me any good (in Ryder Cup points),'' Stewart said.
After the British, which unlike the Scottish awards American Ryder Cup points, Stewart will take a week off before finishing his Ryder Cup quest with the Buick Open and the PGA Championship.
``If I don't make it and Lanny (Wadkins) doesn't select me, it will be hard to sit back and watch it on TV,'' Stewart said.
Wadkins, this year's captain and an eight-time Ryder Cup participant, will have two at-large selections at his disposal unless the PGA Championship winner is not among the top 10 in points. Stewart could also play his way onto the team by winning the PGA, which he did in 1989.
``The Ryder Cup is the ultimate, the Olympics of golf,'' Stewart said. ``If I don't play well this week, then I've just let myself down. If you don't play well at the Ryder Cup, then you've let yourself down, 11 teammates down and the country down. . . . It's a gut-check. But it's a wonderful experience.''
Stewart would know. Other than Wadkins, Stewart has the longest streak of consecutive U.S. Ryder Cup team appearances with four.
He likes his chances. After winning at the Shell Houston Open in April - his first win since the 1991 U.S. Open - his confidence is back. He considers himself capable of winning this week and said he expects to win again this season.
At this time last year, his answer would have been 180 degrees different.
Stewart, quite frankly, had become indifferent.
He made just $145,687 and finished 123rd on the money list in '94. It was the first time since his rookie year in 1981 that he'd finished out of the top 50 in earnings.
``That's as low as I'd been in my 13-year career,'' said Stewart, winner of nine PGA Tour events. ``In November I sat down and asked myself, `What do I want to do? Be one of the best like I'd been? Or be an also-ran?' ''
There were ready excuses. The construction of a new home and its built-in headaches. Kicking a tobacco habit. Changing equipment.
And yet, there was no excuse good enough.
``I had a lot of things distracting me,'' Stewart said. ``I was frustrated and feeling sorry for myself.
``I've been out here long enough that second place just doesn't do it for me. I made a conscious effort to rededicate myself.''
Stewart has re-emerged as one of the game's leading forces. He ranks 15th in earnings this season with $629,976.
Once again, he is earning his keep in what has been described as a ``lucrative'' endorsement deal with NFL Properties.
For Wednesday's Pro-Am, he wore the New York Giants' colors. He admits the Washington Redskins outfit made the trip, but will say no more about his wardrobe plans for the week.
Regardless of the color scheme, it's hard to miss Stewart on the course - the knickers, the Hoganesque golf cap, the bright colors - and that's the way he likes it.
``I was standing on a practice tee at some tournament back in 1982 wearing red slacks and a white shirt with a red stripe,'' Stewart said. ``And I looked down the tee and there were two guys with exactly the same thing on. I decided to do something to distinguish myself.
``I'd seen some Australians wearing coordinated Plus-Fours outfits when I'd played the Asian Tour in 1981. I figured I'd give it a try. So I debuted the knickers at Atlanta on a Saturday.''
A bold move, for Stewart was paired with noted acid tongue Lee Trevino. The Merry Mex could only giggle at the sight and the crowd loved the outfit.
``I was just a kid then, so maybe that's why he didn't just cut me open,'' Stewart, 39, said. ``Plus, I was beating him.''
Shortly thereafter, Stewart wore knickers for all four days of the Quad Cities Open - and won. It was his first PGA Tour victory and the results guaranteed the tour would have a knickered one for as long as Stewart chooses to play.
His immediate goal is to have those knickers on the fourth week of September, when the U.S. hosts the Ryder Cup at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, N.Y.
``It would be a disappointment not to make it,'' Stewart said, ``being that it was one of my goals for the year.'' ILLUSTRATION: [Color Photo]
PAUL AIKEN/Staff
Payne Stewart, shown here with Cindy Sands of Richmond, is currently
20th in Ryder Cup points. The top 10 finishers qualify along with
two at-large bids.
ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE
As he did in his 1991 U.S. Open win, Payne Stewart will sport his
trademark knickers this weekend.
AT A GLANCE
For a copy of the schedule and more info, see microfilm for this
date.]
Course map, complete tournament information/C5
THE 19TH ANNUAL ANHEUSER-BUSCH GOLF CLASSIC
Williamsburg, Virginia Thursday, July 13 - Sunday, July 16
SOURCE: Kingsmill Golf Club
CLASSIC HISTORY
KINGSMILL GOLF COURSE
GETTING THERE
SCORE CARD
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
TICKETS
Graphic by Robert D. VOros
Copyright 1995 The Virginian-Pilot and The Ledger-Star
[For a copy of the graphic, see microfilm on page C5 for this
date.]
TEE TIMES
RICH RADFORD HANDICAPS THE FIELD
[For a copy of the graphics, see microfilm for this date on page
C4.
KEYWORDS: ANHEUSER-BUSCH GOLF CLASSIC by CNB