Nelson, Byron

Byron Nelson, in full John Byron Nelson, byname Lord Byron, (born February 4, 1912, near Waxahachie, Texas, U.S.—died September 26, 2006, Roanoke, Texas), American professional golfer who dominated the sport in the late 1930s and ’40s. Known for his fluid swing, he won a record 11 consecutive professional tournaments in 1945.

Nelson began as a caddie at the age of 12 and became a professional in 1932. He won the U.S. Open (1939), the Masters Tournament (1937 and 1942), and the Professional Golfers’ Association of America (PGA) Championship (1940 and 1945). The top U.S. money winner in 1944 and 1945, Nelson finished in the money 113 consecutive times. During his record-setting 1945 season, he also won an unprecedented 18 out of 30 tour tournaments. Nelson, who was known as Lord Byron, received the Vardon trophy in 1939 for low scoring average. Almost mechanically accurate with his iron shots, he won the 1939 Western Open over the difficult Medinah No. 3 course near Chicago without leaving the fairway once in 72 holes. A hemophiliac, he was exempt from military service during World War II.

After the 1946 season Nelson essentially retired, only occasionally playing in tournaments. His career totals included 52 PGA titles. He remained involved in the sport, teaching several players, including Tom Watson, and serving as nonplaying captain of the Ryder Cup team in 1965. In addition, he also worked as a television commentator. Nelson was elected to the PGA Hall of Fame in 1953 and to the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974. In 1968 a PGA tournament in Irving, Texas, was renamed in his honour. Nelson’s autobiography, How I Played the Game, was published in 1993.