The Byron Nelson
posted in My Golf Stories, News |This week the PGA will pay tribute to one of golf’s greatest. Lord Byron as he was known set some of the game’s greatest records, eleven in a row and eithteen wins in one season. These records may well stand the test of time. Not only was Byron a great golfer he was a true gentleman. When you talk to the players they all have a kind word to say about Byron Nelson and the same was said about Byron in that no one remembers hearing Byron say anything bad about his fellow competitors.
This has been one of the most successful tournamnets the past many years after being associated with Nelson. The Salesman Club of Dallas has also helped to make this one of the best when it comes to raising money for charity.
Byron Nelson grew up with the legendary Ben Hogan and Sam Snead was also the same age a Byron and Hogan. Can you imagine three of the best golfers of all time being the same age. That would be like three Nobel Peace winners being the same age, it just doesn’t happen. What a golden area in golf this had to have been. Byron gets credit for starting the modern swing and his career also came along at the beginning of the modern steel shafts. Just think about going to the first tee and knowing you had to beat the likes of Sam Snead and Ben Hogan.
Byron cut his career short to enjoy his love for the country. Nelson played during hard economic times and a lot of the money earned on the tour came in the form of bonds. He saved his money and bought his dream ranch in Texas and played sparingly after that. To retire when you are in your thirties and you are just getting into your prime is not very likely in today’s golfing world. Byron was always giving back to the game, Tom Watson credited Nelson with helping him with his game.