Byron Nelson deserves better

By Neville idour

The Byron Nelson Classic, now the C J Cup Byron Nelson Classic, was always one of the feature events on the PGA Tour calendar as befits one of the greatest all time players.

Some of his achievements have never been bettered and probably never will. With that in mind the field for the 2025 event might have been one of the weakest ever in the tournament's 81-year history.

58th U.S. Masters Golf Tournament
Spectators look on as Byron Nelson (1912 - 2006) of the United States drives off the 1st tee taking the honorary tee shot before the start of the 58th US Masters golf tournament on 7th April 1994 at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, United States. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images)

The event was first played in 1944 at Lakewood Country Club in Dallas, Texas, when Nelson himself, a Texan raised in Fort Worth, won.

Apparently the event is the leading fundraiser for charity on the PGA Tour having raised more than $US143 million. For much of its history it was the only PGA Tour event named after a professional golfer, until the Arnold Palmer Invitational was born and they remain the only two. The Nelson event is set to remain as the C J Group, that replaced A T & T as title sponsor in 2024, signed a 10-year agreement.

One would have thought this would have been one of the top tier signature events boasting $US20 million prizemoney, but no it was effectively second tier with $US9.9 million. Hence most of the top 100 world ranked golfers gave it a miss.

Only two top 20 players were there and finished in the top 40 — they being Scottie Scheffler and Si Woo Kim. Extending that, just four top 50 players finished in the top 40. Jordan Spieth and Sam Burns were the other two.

Golfer Byron Nelson Accepting PGA Tournament Trophy
(Original Caption) Byron Nelson (right), winner in the National PGA Tourney at Dayton, Ohio, receives the huge cup from Ed Dudley (center) PGA Tourney president, as Sam Byrd, runner-up, looks on. Nelson defeated Byrd in the finals in what was the fifth time in the last six PGA tourneys that he has played the championship match. Tourney was held at Moraine Country Club

The big drawcard Scottie Scheffler was there, choosing to miss the $US20 million Truist signature event the following week. He said he wanted to prepare for the PGA Championship. However one has to ask was he just hunting for his first win of the year in a much weaker field. Whatever the case he maintained a detached non-engaging personna throughout as if he was playing with no fans or spectators present.

Interestingly at one point when he did not acknowledge crowd applause after excellent birdies yet again, the commentators had a discussion.about his approach saying “I would love to ask Scottie how he feels about golf” and “does he love it or just winning?”

He may be the nicest guy but he sure doesn’t seem interested in connecting with the fans. When one thinks of all the world number one players who have preceded him it is difficult to think of one who exuded less personality with fans.

Byron Nelson’s tournament deserves more than what was provided at the 2025 event. We look at Byron Nelson’s place in the pantheon of golfing greats elsewhere in this issue.