Ken Bridges/Contributing Writer
Texan Byron Nelson was a legend in sports. In the 1940s, he was the most successful golfer in the world, never losing his faith or his modesty.
John Byron Nelson, Jr., was born in Waxahachie in 1912 to a hard-working family of devoted churchgoers. In the 1920s, the family moved to Fort Worth, where Nelson soon found work as a golf caddy at Glen Garden Country Club. He fell in love with golf, even playing in the dark of night. Here he met Ben Hogan, also a young caddy and also one of the future legends of the game.
Nelson turned professional in 1932 and took a number of jobs across the country running several golf clubs as head professional. His first tournament win was the 1935 New Jersey State Open. In 1937, he won The Masters Tournament, his first major championship win.
He had 21 professional wins before World War II erupted. While many other athletes served in the war, Nelson’s hemophilia prevented him from serving. Nevertheless, he continued to play on the PGA Tour and worked to raise money for the war effort. He defeated his old friend Ben Hogan in a dramatic playoff in the 1942 Masters Tournament. The war caused most professional athletics to shut down for 1943, but Nelson came roaring back in 1944, winning eight tournaments in the shortened season.
In 1945, Nelson won 11 straight tournaments, thrilling sports fans. The winning streak set a record which has lasted for decades. He won his fifth and last major, the PGA Championship, in 1945. He won a total of 18 tournaments that year. The Associated Press would also name him its Male Athlete of the Year for 1944 and 1945. He went on to win six more tournaments in 1946 and finished in the Top 20 for 113 straight tournaments.
After the 1946 season, Nelson largely retired from golf after having won 64 tournaments. He continued to play in The Masters until 1966 and played on the American team for the Ryder Cup international tournament in 1947. His last tournament win was the 1955 French Open.
After retiring from golf, a move he said he never regretted, he fulfilled his dream of buying his own ranch. He was content to work on his ranch outside Roanoke for the rest of his life. A humble man of faith, he continued to serve his church regularly, even serving as a janitor for the church on occasion.
Long after his retirement, Nelson remained a beloved figure by golf fans around the world. He helped coach and advise many young players struggling to find success on the PGA Tour and worked as an analyst for televised golf tournaments. He also worked with children to help them learn golf and develop Nelson’s same love for the game. In 1968, the PGA Tour renamed its Dallas tournament after Nelson. For years, the Byron Nelson Classic was the only tournament named after a player. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974. The PGA also gave him its Lifetime Achievement Award in 1997.
Dr. Ken Bridges is a proud father, professor, native Texan, and author of seven books. His columns appear in 85 newspapers. He can be contacted by e-mail at drkenbridges@gmail.com.