Payne remembered as golfers lament loss

"I miss seeing him with his children, I miss him at Christmas and all the holidays. He used to make it so much fun."

Professionally, the value of Stewart's contribution to golf in a career spanning more than 20 years was incalculable. He was a character through and through, always colourful in his trademark cap and plus fours, and his presence at a tournament was guaranteed to draw large galleries and media interest.

By unfortunate timing a jury of nine women spent the weeks preceding this poignant anniversary hearing lawyers attempt to put a price on his life.

Among the evidence they considered in a civil suit launched against planemakers Learjet by Tracey and the family of one of the other five men killed in the crash are revelations about the staggering amounts of money to be made by a successful professional golfer.

It was claimed in a Florida court that, had he lived, Stewart's earnings through golf and related enterprises could have exceeded £110million at today's exchange rate.

It was calculated that Stewart, a winner of three majors and a man whose pride and passion was a significant factor in the United States' historic Ryder Cup victory of 1999, had already earned over £23m in prize money and from endorsements and sponsorships.

He was, for example, paid more than £200,000 a year to endorse the financial services company Legg-Mason Funds. And at the time of his death Stewart was said to have been in talks with Nike about a sponsorship deal worth £420,000 a year.

Brian Fitzgerald, a sports and event marketing consultant, explained to the court the reasons behind the appeal of professional golf to companies seeking blue-chip backing.

"Golfers are safer," he said. "They're clean cut. They work very well with corporate clientele."

According to Fitzgerald, Stewart could demand £55,000 in daily appearance fees. Indeed, it was revealed that one company had paid Stewart £11,000 for just one hour of his time signing autographs and greeting guests at a trade show.

Like many top players, Stewart was involved in the design of golf courses. He was on his way to survey a new course in Dallas when his charter jet went down.

One of Stewart's close friends, golfer and course architect Peter Jacobsen, used his own earnings to illustrate what Stewart could have expected by way of fees. Jacobsen testified that his design business charges about £400,000 per layout and that he himself had designed about 13 courses.

The winner of the 105th US Open here this week will pocket a first prize of £625,000. However, as the Stewart revelations prove, this is just a down payment on the inevitable riches to come.

As for Tracey, not only is she still coming to terms with the loss of a husband and father but the lawsuit was lost, too. The court held that Learjet were not responsible for sudden loss of cabin pressure in the plane that rendered unconscious all those on board including, with disastrous consequences, the pilots.

Tracey won't be present at Pinehurst this week. Instead, she will be supporting Aaron who is playing in a more minor tournament. He wants to be a golfer. Just like his dad.