Jose Maria Olazabal "I have no words to express how I feel
right now.
"You just don't expect these things to happen. I played with Payne quite a
few times and I always enjoyed his company.
"A true sportsman on the course and a gentleman off it. He never failed to
conduct himself in the true manner. We all knew what the Ryder Cup meant to him,
but he never lost perspective on what the match was all about.
"He said that winning the Cup back last month completed his year. If he has
died we have lost a precious man and someone who still had good years ahead of
him."
"A family man, he said he was going
to really enjoy his US Open win and he seemed to be doing that. He seemed to be
really enjoying life.
"I played him twice in Ryder Cup singles Stewart won in 1987, Olazabal in
1989 and he was always nice, always saying 'good shot'."
Lee Westwood: "I am too choked to
talk at the moment"
Jean Van de Velde : "I'm devastated,
totally devastated.
"It certainly puts into perspective little things like missed putts. My
thoughts go to his family because he was such a family man.
"We was a wonderful sportsman and wonderful person."
Bernhard Langer : "We
all know where he is going.
"We've been friends for a long time and he's been a wonderful colleague -
very friendly, very polite, very out-going.
"Every time you saw him he seemed happy and joyful and he was a man of many
talents."
Bernard Gallacher "I think the golfing world has just come to terms with Davis Love III's
father dying in a crash. This will be the same. The American players and wives
will gather round and comfort them.
"I think Colin Montgomerie and his wife will be very upset, it is a very sad
moment."
Ken Schofield"Obviously
it is a very, very sad day for the world of golf for a number of reasons.
Firstly he was a wonderful person, there was no question of that, and he was a
magnificent golfer with a totally international focus.
"Tonight golf is a sad family. He was the reigning US Open champion and
that's says it all. Whether he was playing in the Ryder Cup in Brookline or at
The Belfry, he stood for golf's sporting values."
