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Friday, May 15, 1998

Nelson an inspiration for young players in his tournament

By BRAD TOWNSEND / The Dallas Morning News

IRVING, Texas -- On the eve of the 31st GTE Byron Nelson Classic, the tournament's namesake uttered the unthinkable.

There might be a day in the distant future, Byron Nelson reasoned, when the tournament would be better off without his name attached to it.

"It would be fine with me if they found something else that they need to do to make the tournament better," Nelson said. "Why, even if I was dead in the grave, I wouldn't mind if they did it, if that's what they need."

Nice gesture, inconceivable idea. Even at age 86, Nelson is the focal point of this tournament, the very reason it exists. Just ask most of the 156 players who will begin first-round play Thursday on the Four Seasons at Las Colinas' TPC and Cottonwood Valley courses.

Most of them were born 25 to 30 years after Nelson's last full PGA Tour season (1946), but you wouldn't know it from the way they greet him when he tours the courses in a cart each morning.

Dallas native Justin Leonard on Wednesday went so far as to say Nelson's presence gives him added incentive this week.

"As involved as he's been with the tournament and as well as I've gotten to know him, it would be pretty special to play well here at his tournament," Leonard said.

Tiger Woods said his favorite memory of winning last year's tournament was the time he spent with "Mr. Nelson," listening to old stories and seeking Nelson's advice on golf and life. Phil Mickelson's best memory of winning in '96 was spending time at Nelson's ranch.

Fans may wonder how Nelson could have anything in common with today's players. Turns out, he shares one distinction with the modern athlete: An apparel contract.

Last year, Nelson signed a deal with Nautica. On Wednesday, he was wearing one of the shirts, with his name on it.

"They tell me it's the first time they think an 85-year-old man ever signed a clothing contract," Nelson said with a smile. "And not only that, with a 10-year option.

"My wife, Peggy, said, ÔBoy, I'm going to have to take care of you for a long time.' "

Nelson has walked with a cane since his hip surgery several years ago, but his mind remains sharp as ever. On Wednesday, he reeled off specific dates, tournaments and shots from his career.

He also recalled the day when, after the 1967 Greater Dallas Open, Felix McKnight and W.L. Todd phoned him and said they needed to talk to him right away. They came to his house to ask him if they could name the tournament after him, to give it a visibility and credibility boost.

Later, McKnight shook his head, admiringly.

"I can't believe all the things he remembers," McKnight said. "I barely remember half of those things."

To this day, the Nelson remains the only event named in honor of a professional golfer. But Nelson is proudest of the fact that, since 1973, the tournament has raised nearly $42 million for the Salesmanship Club's Youth and Family Centers.

With its $2.5 million purse, and talk of multi-million-dollar improvements for the TPC and Cottonwood Valley courses, Nelson is confident the tournament will prosper for years to come, with or without him.

Despite Nelson's offer, it's doubtful anyone will ever suggest renaming the tournament.

"They have a contract, a signed contract by me, to use my name in perpetuity for the tournament, as long as it's here," Nelson said. "And I think it will be here forever."

The same probably can be said for the record Nelson set in 1945, when he won 11 starts in a row en route to an 18-victory season. Records, however, aren't the only reason today's 25-year-old golfers treat him with such reverence.

It is the way he greets them, individually, personally, every year they come to his tournament. Nelson is only half-kidding when he refers to himself as the Four Seasons' "oldest employee."

"I definitely feel I have more friends than anybody I ever saw," Nelson said. "I'm not talking about acquaintances, I'm talking about real friends. They're interested in me."

Moments later, he cut off the interview in mid-sentence.

"I've got to be on the first tee and watch the chairman start (in the pro-am)," he said. "Or I'll get fired."

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Distributed by The Associated Press