Golf loses 'one of the greatest'
By JAIME ARON
Associated Press

IRVING, Texas – Byron Nelson's mechanics were so perfect that the U.S. Golf Association nicknamed its robotic swing device the "Iron Byron." He was such a Masters icon that Augusta National named a bridge after him in 1958, and a few years ago a statue of him was displayed nearby, too.

And the man known as "Lord Byron" was so beloved in golf he became the first player after whom a PGA Tour stop was named.

Yet what will forever define the story of the courtly Texan with the elegant stroke and personality to match always comes back to 1945, when Nelson completed the greatest year in the history of the game: 18 wins, and a mesmerizing 11 of those in a row.

"The Streak" is a record that no golfer has ever approached. Many believe no one ever will.

Nelson died Tuesday at 94, the end of a life spanning eras from hickory shafts and meager prize money to titanium heads and multimillionaires.

His wife, Peggy Nelson, told family friend Angela Enright that her husband appeared fine as she left their Roanoke home for Bible study Tuesday morning.

"I'm so proud of you," he told her, something he often said about her church involvement, Enright said. When she returned, Peggy Nelson found her husband on the back porch, which faces the woodworking shop where he spent much of his free time.

The Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office said he died of natural causes. A funeral service is planned for 1:30 p.m. Friday at Richland Hills Church of Christ.

Arnold Palmer called Nelson "one of the greatest players who ever lived."

"I don't think that anyone will ever exceed the things that Byron did by winning 11 tournaments in a row in one year," Palmer said in a statement.

The closest any player has come to Nelson's streak is six, first by Ben Hogan in 1948. When Tiger Woods reached that number in 1999-2000, Nelson was typically gracious when putting his own mark into perspective.

"Anytime you make a record stand for 55 years, why, you've done pretty good," he told The Associated Press.

Nelson won 18 tournaments in 1945, also a record for a calendar year. He captured 31 of 54 tournaments in 1944-45, and won a total of 52 events, including five majors: the Masters in 1937 and '42, the U.S. Open in 1939 and the PGA Championship in 1940 and '45.

Then, at age 34, he retired after the 1946 season to spend more time on his Texas ranch.

"When I was playing regularly, I had a goal," Nelson recalled years later. "I could see the prize money going into the ranch, buying a tractor, or a cow. It gave me incentive."

Nelson's long, fluid swing is considered the model of the modern way to strike a golf ball. In 1968, he was the first player to have a PGA Tour event named for him, an honor that remained his alone until the former Bay Hill Invitational, scheduled for March, was renamed the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

"We have lost a giant in the game ... someone who elevated the game in every way: as a player, an ambassador and a gentleman," said Ben Crenshaw, a two-time Masters champion and winner of Nelson's tournament in 1983. "Whoever came up with `Lord Byron,' they got it exactly right."

Nelson's connections helped make his event the No. 1 fundraiser for charity on the PGA Tour _ more than $94 million since the tournament's inception, including $6.3 million this year. The U.S. House recently voted to award Nelson a Congressional Gold Medal for philanthropy; the legislation, Congress' highest award, is pending in the Senate.

"Our players, young and old, looked to Byron as the consummate role model of our sport," PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem said. "His legacy spans across his historic performances, the gentle and dignified way he carried himself and his tremendous contributions to golf and society."

Nelson held the PGA Tour records for most consecutive made cuts (113) and for single-season scoring average (68.33) until both were broken by Woods, who called him "the greatest ambassador golf has ever known."

"He retired early," Woods said early Wednesday from the American Express Championship outside London. "All he wanted to do was make enough money to buy his ranch. If he had kept playing like guys do now, more than likely he would have won more tournaments than anyone."

Nelson's mark on the Masters was honored in 1958 when the path that takes golfers over Rae's Creek to the 13th tee was named Nelson Bridge, commemorating his final-day charge over the 12th and 13th holes that sent him to victory in 1937. He later was the annual honorary starter, along with Gene Sarazen and Sam Snead. Nelson made his final ceremonial shot in 2001.

"He sent me a note saying he probably wouldn't make it to the next Masters, so he must have had an inkling," Woods said.

John Byron Nelson was born Feb. 4, 1912, on the family farm in Waxahachie, Texas, and started in golf in 1922 as a caddie at Glen Garden Country Club in Fort Worth. One year, he won the caddies' championship, defeating Hogan in a playoff.

After graduating from high school, Nelson got a job as a file clerk in the accounting office of the Forth Worth and Denver Railroad and played golf in his spare time. He lost his job during the Great Depression but found work in 1931 with a bankers' magazine.

The same year, he entered his first tournament, the National Amateur in Chicago, where he missed qualifying by one stroke. With jobs hard to find, he turned professional in 1932.

Nelson was excused from military service during World War II because he was a hemophiliac. With many foes in the service, he faced weakened fields _ still, his accomplishments in the war years were astounding.

In 1944, he won 13 of the 23 tournaments he played. But it was the following year that will forever live as one of the greatest in golf history. Besides his 18 wins and streak of 11, he also finished second seven times, was never out of the top 10 and at one point played 19 consecutive rounds under 70.

His streak is honored in a series of displays at the course where his tournament is held. The course also boasts a larger-than-life statue of Nelson; by Tuesday night, several flowers had been placed at its feet.

Nelson was voted AP Male Athlete of the Year in 1944 and 1945. He was elected to the PGA Hall of Fame in 1953 and to the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974. He's now sixth on the career wins list, behind Snead, Jack Nicklaus, Hogan, Palmer and Woods.

Although Nelson continued to play in an occasional tournament after 1946, he retreated to his 673-acre ranch in Roanoke and never returned to competitive golf full time. He spent time on the course in the 1960s as one of golf's early TV announcers.

Nelson developed a widely imitated "Texas style" swing that was upright and compact, unlike some of the unwieldy swings of early players.

"The mechanics of my swing were such that it required no thought," Nelson said. "It's like eating. You don't think to feed yourself. If you have to think about your swing it takes that much away from your scoring concentration."

Besides his wife, Nelson is survived by his brother Charles Nelson and sister Ellen Scherman.

'Lord Byron' remembered more as great gentleman than great golfer
By JAIME ARON, AP Sports Writer
 September 29, 2006

NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, Texas (AP) -- With story after story reinforcing the notion that Byron Nelson was an even better gentleman than he was a golfer, longtime business manager and close friend Jon Bradley provided the anecdote that perhaps best framed the essence of the late "Lord Byron."

Bradley returned from a trip to the U.S. Golf Association's museum and recounted all the memorabilia from his friend's career that he'd seen. His only disappointment was that USGA officials didn't fire up the "Iron Byron" swing machine so he could see it in action.

"No?" Nelson told him. "But they did for me."

That was Nelson: Proud of his golf legacy, eager to share it with others and puzzled that he'd be treated different from anyone else.

Although he considered himself an ordinary man, the memories shared during a 1 1/2 -hour memorial service Friday were far from it -- from a powerful speech by his widow, Peggy, to his minister calling Nelson "the greatest man I've ever known."

"We can debate over which man was the greatest golfer, but we can never debate which golfer was the greatest man," said Rick Atchley, senior minister of the Richland Hills Church of Christ.

Nelson died Tuesday of natural causes at his Roanoke ranch. He was 94, and his last words were to Peggy as she headed out for church: "I'm so proud of you."

"I'm sure he would've wanted to say that to every one of you," she told about 2,200 people, so many that she mouthed "Wow" when she went stepped to the podium and looked out at the sanctuary.

The Nelsons were two months from their 20th anniversary. They celebrated their 238th month together a few months ago, continuing a tradition of treasuring every day that began early in their marriage. Nelson's first wife, Louise, died in 1985, having spent her final two years paralyzed by a stroke.

"With this man, who was better than a prince because his nickname was 'Lord Byron,' all my dreams ... came true," Peggy Nelson said. "He was my joy."

Nelson touched many lives, as a friend, teacher and role model. He was deeply religious, yet showed it mostly through his devotion to his church.

His place in golf lore is sealed by his 52 wins, including five majors (he was a runner-up in six others) and a whopping 18 victories in 1945.

Anyone who has ever played golf can only marvel at his top feat, an 11-tournament winning streak in 1945 that is often compared to Joe DiMaggio's 56-game hitting streak as the least likely to be topped. It's worth noting that folks have come closer to DiMaggio's streak than Nelson's.

While the purity of Nelson's swing is remembered most, several speakers referred to his large hands and powerful forearms.

And then there was the competitive nature often forgotten because of his sweet nature.

Bradley recalled Sam Snead telling everyone at a party commemorating The Streak that Nelson "didn't drink, didn't dance ... I don't think he had any fun."

"Byron put an arm on the podium, leaned over and said, 'Sam, you don't think winning 11 straight tournaments was fun?"' Bradley said.

Ben Crenshaw, among about a dozen pro golfers in the crowd, said before the service that Nelson was "the most consistent player who ever lived." He half-jokingly added, "You cannot have won all those tournaments without a mean streak in you somewhere."

Nelson retired at age 34 for the simple reason that he'd earned enough money to buy a ranch. After all, sports didn't pay the same in the 1940s as they do today, something he often reminded folks in his many stories.

Nelson remained close to the game over his final 60 years as a teacher, one of the first TV analysts and as a friend to everyone.

Players born long after Nelson got to know him through the PGA Tour stop named after him in 1968. It was the first to carry a player's name and has since become the tour's No. 1 fundraiser for charity. Nelson was a gracious host and a keen recruiter of talent; he once wrangled a sponsor's invitation for a high school kid named Tiger Woods.

He loved sending notes to players, "and it wasn't always after a win," said Justin Leonard, one of many Dallas-area golfers whose career Nelson was able to follow closely. "It was encouragement when you weren't playing well."

Ken Venturi and Tom Watson were Nelson's greatest pupils. Both attended the service, with Venturi speaking during the part of the service reflecting on Nelson's golf career; other parts focused on him as a friend, an uncle and Atchley talking about "the man, the saint."

"The game of golf would not be what it is today without Byron, the finest gentleman that ever was," Venturi said. "I can truly say I never heard anyone say anything bad about Byron or Byron say anything bad about anyone."

Venturi said Nelson was like a father to him, and that he recently thanked him for it. He asked if there was anything he could do in return.

"Be good to the game, Ken, and give back," Venturi said.

Nelson was always giving, from the notes to the advice to things he carved in his beloved woodworking shop on his ranch. Bradley visited the shop since Nelson's death and found 14 clocks in various stages of being built; among his final products were a dozen slivers branded with a psalm for each member of the U.S. Ryder Cup team, which competed last weekend.

Tom Lehman, captain of that squad, withdrew from the American Express Championship in England to fly to Texas for the service. Loren Roberts jeopardized his spot atop the Champions Tour points and earnings lists by dropping out of this weekend's event to be here.

Tracey Stewart, widow of Payne Stewart, flew in the day Nelson died to be with his widow. Payne Stewart befriended Byron Nelson during his college days at SMU; Byron Nelson spoke at services following Stewart's death in 1999.

Phil Mickelson, Corey Pavin, D.A. Weibring, Tom Purtzer and Brandt Jobe were among other golfers attending. PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem, Roger Cleveland -- whose company, Cleveland Golf, made the Byron Nelson line of clubs -- and broadcasters Pat Summerall, Jim Nantz and David Feherty also were in the crowd.

Nelson's legacy will endure through the Byron Nelson Championship. The event has generated more than $94 million for charity, earning him the government's top honor for philanthropy.

Unfortunately, the Senate did not approve the Byron Nelson Congressional Gold Medal Act until Wednesday, and it won't be official until being signed by President Bush. However, it went through the U.S. House earlier this year and Nelson knew late last week that there was enough support in the Senate.

Tournament sponsor EDS took out a full-page ad in The Dallas Morning News on Friday to honor his memory. "A hero whose vision went beyond 18 holes" was written in all capital letters above a profile photograph.

"His legacy of kindness, humility and reaching out to help others in need will long outlive the legacy he left us on the course," the ad read. "We will remember Byron fondly as we carry on our commitment to his namesake tournament."

Next year's event will be April 26-29, moved up from its usual May date.