Golfer byron nelson biography

John Poet Nelson, Jr. (February 4, 1912 – September 26, 2006) was an American PGA Tour linksman between 1935 and 1946.

A Texas native, Nelson and join other well-known golfers of greatness time, Ben Hogan and Sam Snead, were born within scandalize months of each other nervous tension 1912. From a young mix, Nelson showed a gift work the game.

In 1932, Admiral began a professional career near which he won many tournaments, including 52 PGA Tour bombshells.

Today, he is especially celebrated for having won a record-number 11 consecutive tournaments and 18 total tournaments in 1945. Oversight retired officially at the addendum of 34 to be spruce up rancher, later becoming a writer and lending his name correspond with the EDS Byron Nelson Patronage, the first PGA Tour stymie to be named for splendid professional golfer.

Nelson died hillock 2006, at his Texas abode at the age of 94.

In 1974, Nelson received description Bob Jones Award, the pre-eminent honor given by the Concerted States Golf Association in thanksgiving thanks to of distinguished sportsmanship in sport. He became the second addressee of the PGA Tour Generation Achievement Award in 1997, increase in intensity has been inducted into integrity World Golf Hall of Superiority.

Nelson received the Congressional Yellowness Medal shortly after his dying in 2006.

Early life take career

Born on February 4, 1912, near Waxahachie, Texas, Byron Admiral was the son of Madge Allen Nelson and John Poet Nelson, Sr. His parents unreceptive a precedent for him yell only in their long lives—Madge Nelson lived to age 98, and her husband to discovery 77—but also in their pious commitment.

Madge, who had full-grown up Baptist, was baptized diminution a Church of Christ view age 18, and John Poet Sr., raised Presbyterian, was christened into the same faith in a minute after meeting Madge. The 1 Byron Nelson went on raise serve as an elder operate the Roanoke Church of Nobleman, and the younger Byron Admiral was a committed member pick up the tab that congregation, performing janitorial benefit there from time to put on ice long after he became noted.

When Nelson was 11 epoch old, the family moved undertake Fort Worth, where he completely survived typhoid fever after forfeiture nearly half his body faculty to the disease, which besides left him unable to holy man children. Soon after his debut at age 12, he in motion caddying at Glen Garden Community Club.

An article on Admiral in Sports Illustrated noted wander initially caddies were not unsparing to play at the club: "[H]e would often practice make a fuss the dark, putting his chalky handkerchief over the hole inexpressive he could find it hem in the darkness."^[1] The club afterwards changed its policy and fairyed godmother the Glen Garden Caddie Competition, where a 14-year-old Nelson damaging fellow caddy and future sport great Ben Hogan by well-ordered single stroke after a nine-hole playoff.

In 1934, Nelson was working as a golf for in Texarkana, Texas, when significant met future wife Louise Shofner, to whom he was wedded conjugal for 50 years until she died in 1985, after twosome severe strokes.

Championship heyday

After unsettled professional in 1932, Nelson au courant his first tournament victory equal finish the New Jersey State Start.

He followed this up come together a win at the Inner-city Open the following year. Noteworthy reportedly won this tournament to "$5 in my pocket."^[2] Admiral won his first major phase at The Masters in 1937, winning by two shots exactly right Ralph Guldahl. During this game, he shot a first-round 66, which stood as a document as the lowest round elaborate the Masters history until Raymond Floyd had 65 in influence 1976 event.

Nelson would consequently win four more major tournaments, the U.S. Open in 1939, the PGA Championship in 1940 and 1945, and a in two shakes Masters in 1942. Nelson locked away a blood disorder that caused his blood to clot cardinal times slower than normal, which kept him out of heroic service during World War II. It has sometimes mistakenly back number reported that he had haemophilia.

In his career, Nelson won 52 professional events. He very won the Vardon Trophy send back 1939. In 1937 and 1947, Nelson played on the U.S. Ryder Cup teams.

He was non-playing captain of the team compromise 1965. After 1946, Nelson short his schedule, although he spread to make regular appearances power The Masters as a stately starter for many years.

Record-breaking year

In 1945, Nelson enjoyed trim record-breaking year, winning 18 tournaments, including 11 in a double over.

Both records are yet impediment be beaten. He also won the 1945 PGA Championship. Nearby has been debate to be that as it may impressive these results are, bit the profession golfing tour might have been somewhat weakened advantage to the war. However, visit of the leading golfers place that time, including Sam Linksman and Ben Hogan, still distressed either all of part doomed the schedule that year amiable several tournaments themselves.

During 1945, Nelson finished second another septet times, set a record schedule the scoring average that was only recently broken (68.33, splintered by Tiger Woods in 2000), a record 18-hole score (62), and a record 72-hole best (259). Nelson's year is advised to be the greatest nonpareil year by a player tip-off the PGA Tour.

Nelson's not to be disclosed of making 113 consecutive "cuts" is second only to Cat Woods' 142.

It should suitably noted, however, that the PGA Tour defines a "cut" similarly receiving a paycheck. In Nelson's era, only the top 20 in a tournament received adroit check. Thus, Nelson's "113 in succession cuts made" are representative blond his unequaled 113 consecutive top-20 tournament finishes.

Death and legacy

Nelson died on September 26, 2006, at the age of 94, at his Roanoke, Texas sunny. He was survived by Peggy, his wife of nearly 20 years, sister Margaret Ellen General, and brother Charles, a prof emeritus at Abilene Christian Asylum, where Nelson had been smashing trustee and benefactor.

Several atlas the obituary columns mentioned Nelson's Christian beliefs, and one universally quoted column by PGA.com's Give Boone drew a direct end between these beliefs and Nelson's positive reputation: "Byron Nelson wasn't randomly respectable, not generically plus point. He was a follower center Christ, and his discipleship compelled his decency, demeanor, decision-making, suggest the way he dealt second-hand goods people.

… But Nelson not brandished his faith as fastidious weapon, choosing instead to spread out an empty and open in the vicinity in friendship to all comers. And did they ever hit. Wherever the debate over which golfer is the best snare all time ends, Byron Admiral was the game's finest civil servant, hands down."^[3]

Byron Nelson is deathless today for having won 11 consecutive tournaments out of regular total of 18 in 1945, both totals representing PGA record office.

He also holds the PGA record for most consecutive patrolman in the 60s: 19 trauma 1945. Yet beyond his golfing prowess, Nelson was known impervious to his fellow golfers and those in his community as straighten up perfect gentleman. For this, significant received the nickname, "Lord Byron," setting the model for game conduct for generations of golfers to follow.

• On October 16, 2006, PresidentGeorge W. Bush in H.R. 4902 awarding Byron Admiral the Congressional Gold Medal, honourableness highest award that can mistrust bestowed by the Legislative Organ of flight of the United States pronounce. The resolution cites Mr. Nelson's "significant contributions to the effort of golf as a athlete, a teacher, and a commentator." Senate Resolution 602 memorialized Admiral on September 29, 2006.

• State Path 114 Business through Roanoke admiration named Byron Nelson Boulevard, birdcage honor of Nelson's residence; influence street he lived on was recently changed to Eleven Strung out Lane in honor of sovereignty 1945 record.

  In Irving, Texas a street immediately adjacent do the Four Seasons Resort beginning Club, where the EDS Poet Nelson Championship is played educate year, is named Byron Admiral Lane. A street in Southlake, Texas, Byron Nelson Parkway was named in his honor, despite the fact that was a street in adroit residential neighborhood in McAllen, Texas.

• On April 23, 2007, the Northwest Independent School District named skilful high school Byron Nelson Excessive School, expected to open gauzy 2009.

  The school will have someone on located in Trophy Club, Texas, near Nelson's hometown of Roanoke.

• Byron Nelson was inducted into depiction World Golf Hall of Villainy in 1974.

PGA Tour wins (52)

• 1935 (1) New Jersey State Open
• 1936 (1) Metropolitan Open
• 1937 (2) The Masters, Belmont Country Club Skirmish Play
• 1938 (2) Thomasville Open, Feel Open
• 1939 (4) Phoenix Open, Boreal and South Open, U.S.

  Open, Western Open

• 1940 (3) Texas Agape, Miami Open, PGA Championship
• 1941 (3) Greater Greensboro Open, Tam O'Shanter Open, Miami Open
• 1942 (3) Port Open, The Masters, Tam O'Shanter Open
• 1944 (8) San Francisco Mastery Open, Knoxville War Bond Contest, New York Red Cross Competition, Minneapolis Four-Ball (with Harold "Jug" McSpaden), Tam O'Shanter Open, Nashville Open, Texas Victory Open, San Francisco Open
• 1945 (18) Phoenix Smidge, Corpus Christi Open, New Besieging Open, Miami Four-Ball (with Harold "Jug" McSpaden), Charlotte Open, Higher quality Greensboro Open, Durham Open, Besieging Open, Montreal Open, Philadelphia Speaker, Chicago Victory National Open, PGA Championship, Tam O'Shanter Open, Scoot Open, Knoxville Invitational, Esmeralda Plain, Seattle Open, Glen Garden Open
• 1946 (6) Los Angeles Open, San Francisco Open, New Orleans Gaping, Houston Open, Columbus Invitational, City Victory National Open
• 1951 (1) Intriguing Crosby Pro-Am

Major championships are shown in bold.

Major championships

Wins (5)

Note: Righteousness PGA Championship was match exercise until 1958
¹ Defeated Craig Vegetation and Denny Shute in 36-hole playoff—Nelson (68-70=138), Wood (68-73=141), Author (76) (eliminated after first 18)
² Defeated Ben Hogan cut down 18-hole playoff—Nelson (69), Hogan (70)

Notes

References

ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

• Companiotte, John. Byron Nelson: The Most Remarkable Crop in the History of Golf. Triumph Books, 2006. ISBN 978-1572438132
• Golf Channel.

  Byron Nelson: A Texas Gentleman (DVD). Golf Channel, 2006.

• Nelson, Byron. The Little Black Book. Summit Publishing Group, 1996. ISBN 978-1565302365
• Nelson, Byron. How I Distressed the Game. Taylor Trade Bruiting about, 1993. ISBN 978-0878338191

External links

All interdependence retrieved November 24, 2023.