Today marks the birthday of a golf legend, a true gentleman and, most importantly, our friend, Byron Nelson.
Although brief, Mr. Nelson’s career featured nothing short of elite accomplishments: 54 Tour wins, five major titles – 1937 and 1942 Masters, 1939 U.S. Open, 1940 and 1945 PGA Championships – and a 1945 season that saw him capture 18 wins, and a record-setting 11 victories in a row, a record he still holds.
In 2004, the World Golf Hall of Fame honored Mr. Nelson by featuring an exhibit entitled, “Byron Nelson: A Champion…A Gentleman.”
While recognized as one of the greatest golfers to ever play the game, Mr. Nelson’s humanitarian efforts and his dedicated commitment to the community were just as admirable.
In 1968, Byron Nelson generously decided to lend his namesake to our tournament. In doing so, Mr. Nelson said, “It’s become the best thing that’s ever happened to me in golf, better than winning the Masters or the U.S. Open or even eleven in a row. Because it helps people.
We are truly grateful for Mr. Nelson sharing his namesake with our tournament, and it is a privilege to continue to honor the legacy of the man who still inspires us to this day.
