When Byron Nelson first came east from Texas early in his career, he found a job as an assistant pro at Ridgewood, a fine club in New Jersey. One day a member asked Byron, who was noted for his accuracy even at this early stage in his career, if he thought he could hit a flagpole off in the distance. Nelson took a 1-iron and hit the flagpole on the first try, presumably to the astonishment of everyone but himself.
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In 1945 Byron Nelson won nineteen of the thirty tournaments he entered, including eleven in a row. His average was a remarkable 68.33 strokes per round.
One stretch of the Masters that year, he admits was some of the best golf of his career. He played Ben Hogan in a playoff and edged him 69-70. Nelson was three strkes behind after six holes. He birdied the 6th, eagled the 8th, birdied the 11th, 12th, and 13th, and played the next three holes in even par. Hogan played the same stretch in one under par and lost five shots...and the Masters.
Byron Nelson was the father of the modern-day golf swing. It was so smooth and poetic, he was referred to as Lord Byron. In fact, when the original robot that was designed to test golf balls and clubs was developed, it was name the Iron Byron.
R.I.P. Mr. Nelson, you were a true gentlemen and one of the greatest golfers in history. This is a sad day in the world of golf.
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I have a golf ball that he autographed for me at a tournament I was playing in a long time ago. Wonder what that's worth on ebay now?
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"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." --Benjamin Franklin, 1759
I have a golf ball that he autographed for me at a tournament I was playing in a long time ago. Wonder what that's worth on ebay now?
That's awesome that you met him. I wouldn't dream of selling something like that if I had it.
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There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit. ~Al Gallagher, 1971
It seems that every generation has pro golfers that just make the others look like amateurs.
As Tiger is pretty much the class of the field today, Byron was in his day. I think he won 18 in his best year, with 11 of the victories in a row.
RIP, Byron.
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Come to think of it I don't even know where mine is, I haven't seen it in a long time. My luck my wife was looking for a ball to smack around in the field one day....
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"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." --Benjamin Franklin, 1759
Lord Byron Nelson - 1912-2006
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