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'He's the best' Legend Byron Nelson talks about Tiger
Posted: Wednesday February 16, 2000 01:02 PM
Tiger Woods' incredible streak of six consecutive wins on the PGA Tour still ended five shy of the all-time mark. Byron Nelson won 11 in a row in 1945. And now, at the age of 88, even he has been watching Tiger in awe. In this edition of Page One, CNNSI.com's Paul Crane talked with Nelson at his home in Irving, Texas about Woods' recent run at his record. Byron Nelson : I think it was most unusual especially the way things are this day and time. It isn't so much the golf but being in the position he's in, the press and everybody is after him. He doesn't have a life of his own. When I won my tournaments I was not bothered by that. I had some press yes, but you can have some press. I felt sorry for him. I felt sorry for him. Paul Crane : In your book, "Winning Golf", one of the things you mentioned in there is how badly a player wants to win being a key part to success of the game. From what you've been able to see from Tiger, how do you think he measures up in terms of that desire to win over and above anything else?
Nelson : More than anybody I've ever seen and that includes [Jack] Nicklaus. I think he has more desire to win and to play good and do it. He just a great competitor. I think he's the best I ever saw." Crane : Another record you set in 1945 was winning 18 tournaments in one year. Do you believe that mark is at least as safe as 11 in a row? Nelson : The eleven? Under the current situation I think ... I don't believe anybody's going to do it. Crane : You also shattered the money record in 1945 with just over 52-thousand dollars paid in war bonds. It was a time when getting a check required more than making the cut, but finishing in the top 20.
Nelson : There's not anything said hardly at all about the one record, I have four, about the one record that is in my own mind the best record I have. I won money in 113 consecutive tournaments and when I was playing most of the time there were only 20 prizes. The GTE Byron Nelson Classic remains the only event on tour named for a player. But Byron Nelson's greatest legacy may come off the course. Each year his tournament gives more money to charity than any other, and that's one streak he truly hopes lasts forever.
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