Byron Nelson, John

Personal data:
NAME:	John Byron Nelson, Jr
DATE OF BIRTH:	February 4, 1912
PLACE OF BIRTH:	Waxahachie, Texas
BRIEF DESCRIPTION:	American professional golfer on the PGA TOUR between 1935 and 1946 1974 Inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame Nickname: Lord Byron
NATIONALITY	US America
PRO SINCE:	1932

Career

Born in Texan, he grew up as the son of a cotton farmer.
He came to golf the classic way as a caddy in the same golf club as Glen Garden C.C. and Ben Hogan.
However, a rivalry between the golfers soon developed, culminating in Nelson`s win over Hogan in the 1927 Caddy Championship playoff.

Only 5 years later he turned pro and began his short but unique career by winning the 1935 New Jersey State Open.

John Byron Nelson, Jr. was one of the most famous professional golfers with a unique career. Between 1935 and 1946 he accompanied the PGA TOUR and was the first major to win the Masters in 1937.

His success continued and he won four more majors, the US Open in 1939, the PGA Championship in 1940 and 1945 and the 1942 Masters.
All told, he`s won 52 tournaments on the PGA TOUR.

His 1945 record of winning 18 US tournaments, 11 of them in a row, is unmatched to this day.

What came as a surprise to the golfing world, however, was when John Byron Nelson, Jr., as sudden as his success came, left it behind at the age of 34 to pursue his life`s dream. He settled on a range in Roanoke, Texas and spent 60 happy years there until he died at the age of 94.

John Byron Nelson, Jr. was an exceptional man who was soon nicknamed "Lord" for his consistently good manners and demeanor. US Open winner Ken Venturi once said of him:

"You can argue who is the greatest player of all time. But Byron was the finest gentleman the game has ever seen."

Achievements
PGA Tour wins:

1935	New Jersey State Open
1936	Metropolitan Open
1937	Masters Belmont Country Club Match Play
1938	Thomasville Open Hollywood Open
1939	Phoenix Open North and South Open US Open Western Open
1940	Texas Open Miami Open PGA Championship
1941	Greater Greensboro Open Tom O`Shanter Open Miami Open
1942	Oakland Open Masters Tom O`Shanter Open
1944	San Francisco Victory Open Knoxville War Bond Tournament New York Red Cross Tourney Tom O`Shanter Open Nashville Open Texas Victory Open San Francisco Open Minneapolis Four Ball
1945	Phoenix Open Corpus Christi Open New Orleans Open Charlotte Open Greater Greensboro Open Durham Open Atlanta Open Montréal Open Philadelphia Inquirers Chicago Victory National Open Tom O`Shanter Open Canadian Open Knoxville Invitational Esmeralda Open Seattle Open Glengarden Open PGA Championship Miami Four Ball
1946	Los Angeles Open San Francisco Open New Orleans Open Houston Open Columbus Invitational Chicago Victory National Open
1951	Bing Crosby Pro-Am

Awards:

Golfer of the Year, 1944 and 1945

Member of the World Golf Hall of Fame

PGA Tour Vardon Trophy winner, 1939

PGA Tour leading money winners, 1944, 1945

Member of the 2nd U.S. Ryder Cup teams

Captain of the U.S. Ryder Cup team, 1965