PINEHURST, N.C. - Fifteen years after Payne Stewart holed his most memorable putt, knickers are once again on the premises at Pinehurst No. 2.
Rickie Fowler was only 10 years old when Stewart won the 1999 U.S. Open, but he considered him an inspiration growing up and Thursday donned a pair of plus-fours and knee-high argyle socks during the opening round. Stewart was widely recognized during his playing career for wearing knickers on the course in addition to a Tam O’Shanter hat.
At just 25, Fowler is the elder statesman in his grouping Thursday, teeing off at 8:13 a.m. ET alongside 20-year-old Jordan Spieth and 22-year-old Hideki Matsuyama. He tied for 10th last year at the U.S. Open at Merion.