PHOTO: Rickie Fowler pays tribute to Payne Stewart with U.S. Open knickers
U.S. Open

PHOTO: Rickie Fowler pays tribute to Payne Stewart with U.S. Open knickers

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No matter what Rickie Fowler shoots today in the first round of the U.S. Open, he's the fashion leader in the clubhouse.

Fowler is playing the opening round at Pinehurst No. 2 in plus-four knickers as a tribute to 1999 U.S. Open champion Payne Stewart, who won the first Open played at the North Carolina resort 15 years ago before his tragic death in a plane crash later that year.

“I’ve really been looking forward to wearing this outfit,” Fowler told Todd Lewis of the Golf Channel. “It’s been hard to keep a secret. Payne Stewart was on of my idols.”

Fowler didn't go with the driving cap Payne Stewart also wore with his outfits and will return to his traditional garb for the remainder of the week.

This isn't the first time Fowler has donned throwback clothes at a golf tournament.

At the 2012 Zurich Classic of New Orleans, Fowler wore turn-of-the-century getup in an exhibition outing ahead of the tournament. Fowler played with featheries and hickory-shafted golf clubs in the outing.

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