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Golf great Byron Nelson dead at 94

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Known for his elegant swing and gentle manner, Byron Nelson never set out to have the greatest record in golf. He just wanted to make enough money so he could afford a ranch in Texas.

So the year after Mr. Nelson won a record 18 tournaments — including a mind-boggling 11 in a row — he retired from golf in 1945 at 34 and bought his dream ranch in Roanoke, Texas. It was there that Mr. Nelson, one of golf's most beloved characters, died Tuesday at 94.

"The only thing that rivals Byron's greatness on a golf course is the manner in which he conducted his life — as a gentleman, a role model and an ambassador," Jack Nicklaus, one of only five golfers who have exceeded Mr. Nelson's 52 career victories, said in a statement.

Mr. Nelson's career spanned just 11 years, and he never fully committed to it because there wasn't enough money in golf. Still, only Sam Snead (82 victories), Nicklaus (73), Ben Hogan (64), Arnold Palmer (62) and Tiger Woods (53) have won more tournaments.

"My driving focus was to make enough money that I could pay cash for this ranch," said Mr. Nelson, who paid $55,000 for his home in 1946. "The closer I got, the more I was able to concentrate and play well. It was like I was in a trance."

Mr. Nelson — Lord Byron to many — won five major championships — the Masters in 1937 and 1942, the U.S. Open in 1939 and the PGA Championship in 1940 and 1945. He saved his best for his closing acts, winning 31 of 54 tournaments in 1944-45. He led the PGA Tour in earnings in 1944 and 1945 and was named Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year for both of those years. It was how he won — not how often he won — that set him apart.

"As a competitor, Byron was able to be mean and tough and intimidating — and pleasant," said Ken Venturi, the 1964 U.S. Open winner and one of Nelson's closest friends. "You can always argue who was the greatest player, but Byron is the finest gentleman the game has ever known."

Many regard Mr. Nelson's 11 consecutive victories — which started March 8, 1945, at the Miami Four-Ball at the Miami Springs Golf and Country Club — as the most unbreakable record in sports. The closest anyone has come since is six consecutive wins, by Hogan and Woods.

Woods has a current streak of five victories in a row that he will carry into this week's American Express Championship in England. But he has no illusion he'll be able to match Mr. Nelson's record.

"In this day and age, to win 11 in a row would almost be unheard of," Woods said. "What Byron accomplished . . . that goes down as probably one of the greatest years in the history of our sport. You've got to have one bad week somewhere. He never did. His bad week was a win."

And not only did Mr. Nelson win 11 in a row, he won 18 of the 30 tournaments he entered in '45. He finished second on seven occasions and finished out of the top five just once. Of the 30 tournaments, he never finished out of the top 10, and was first, second or third in 26. His stroke average for the year was an astounding 68.33, still a record, including a 67.45 average in the final round.

Mr. Nelson grew weary of the grind of golf, but he never got tired of talking about The Streak, even when his listeners passed from generation to generation.

"I've enjoyed it," he said. "It's been very rewarding. So many people have talked to me about it. Of course, the younger people can't even imagine that it happened. To win three or four tournaments in a year now is a big deal."

But Mr. Nelson's place in golf went far beyond the 11 consecutive wins. Instead of fighting the fame his success brought him, Mr. Nelson used it to help others by hosting a PGA Tour event in the Dallas area that has become the Tour model for the record amount of money it has raised for charity. The Byron Nelson Classic leads all Tour events with more than $95 million in donations.

"I don't think that anyone will ever exceed the things that Byron did by winning 11 tournaments in a row in one year. But I suppose that is not the most admirable thing that he did," Palmer said in a statement Tuesday. "He was a fantastic person whom I admired from the time I was a boy."

The tournament is the only one bearing the name of a former player, and Nelson was a big part of the event's success. Not only did he go on the road to recruit the best players, up until last season he would greet every player as they finished their round and thank them for coming.

"Byron is an icon of golf," said eight-time major champion Tom Watson, Mr. Nelson's longtime friend and protege. "But more important, he was a good man, in the true sense of the word."

Mr. Nelson said he made only $182,000 during his golf career — about what a player makes for finishing sixth in one regular PGA Tour event. But he never was bitter about what today's players earn.

"If I had made millions, I might not be as well off as I am right now," Mr. Nelson said in 1995.

Many credit Mr. Nelson for ushering in the modern swing in an era where hickory clubs were being replaced by the steel shaft. He learned that by using the larger muscles in his legs and hips, he was able to build a more reliable motion through the ball.

Mr. Nelson's swing was so repeatable, it was often compared to a machine. Fact is, in 1966 True Temper created a robot that replicated Nelson's famous swing and was used to create True Temper golf equipment. It was dubbed Iron Byron. The U.S. Golf Association would later use Iron Byron for golf equipment and ball testing.

Mr. Nelson's first wife, Louise, died in 1985. He is survived by his second wife, Peggy.

Craig Dolch writes for the Palm Beach Post. The Associated Press contributed to this story.