PINEHURST, N.C. — Rickie Fowler channeled his inner Payne Stewart for Thursday’s U.S. Open first round at Pinehurst, the place Stewart won a U.S. Open 15 years ago, four months before he perished in a plane crash.
Fowler, known for wearing bright colored clothes and his flat-brimmed ball cap, donned plus-four knickers to honor Stewart and his signature tournament attire.
“Payne was one of my all-time favorite players,’’ Fowler said. “I never had a chance of meeting him, but loved watching him play and loved how he handled himself on and off the golf course, and hearing from guys that have been out here for a while that knew Payne well, hearing from them how great a guy he was on the course and off.
“It was cool to be in the position I’m in to wear some attire like he used to wear, to give tribute to him. Obviously, he had a special week here in ’99. And I’m off to a decent start [even-par 70].’’
Fowler heard comments from fans all over the course, such as: “Nice knickers, nice socks, nice outfit.”
“When I made the turn, someone yelled out ‘Rickie Stewart,’ ’’ Fowler said. “It was cool to walk around and be in the middle of it and kind of share it with the fans.’’
Fowler said his tribute was a one-day thing, saying, “I’m going back to pants [Friday].’’
Fowler was in grade school when Stewart died in a plane crash in October 1999.
“There are a few points that I can look back and remember exactly where I was and what I was doing and what was going on, and one of those is when the plane crash happened,’’ Fowler said. “I started crying in the car.’’
Matthew Dobyns, the head pro at Fresh Meadow Country Club in Lake Success on Long Island, shot 74 in his first career U.S. Open round. Dobyns was one of the four qualifiers among 80 entrants in the sectional qualifier in Westchester last week.
“I had no expectations, zero,’’ Dobyns said. “As a club pro, somebody who’s not out here every week, I think it’s unrealistic to come in with any expectations. My whole thing was hit one shot at a time with the same amount of effort on every shot and enjoy it knowing it could be my last Open and that’s what I did and it helped. It kind of kept me in. I was smiling the first three holes. I just couldn’t help myself. This is nice.’’
By week’s end, Adam Scott could lose the No. 1 ranking he has held for the last month to either No. 2 Henrik Stenson or No. 3 Bubba Watson. Stenson and Watson, the reigning Masters champ, both need a victory to have a shot. Plus, Scott would need to finish outside the top four for Stenson to overtake him and outside the top five for Watson to get to No. 1.
Another local player, Cameron Wilson from Rowayton, Conn., shot 78.