EDS Byron Nelson Championship - Wrapup
After each EDS Byron Nelson Championship the winner and the late great Byron Nelson would share a moment discussing the championship and exchanging stories. This was the first year that this did not happen.
Lord Byron passed away September 26th, 2006 at the age of 94. The five-time major winner had 52 PGA Tour titles to his name and is probably best remembered for his record eleven consecutive tournaments won in 1945. His professional golfing career spanned only 11 years, retiring by the age of 34, but left such an indelible mark on the game that he was the first golfer to have a tournament named after him. The Byron Nelson Golf Classic began in 1968 and was won by Miller Barber; fast forward 38 years and Nelson had his final greenside chat with last year’s champion, Brett Wetterich.
When Scott Verplank and Luke Donald arrived to the 18th tee, a cool breeze swept through the teebox as if it were Nelson descending on the tournament to make his usual appearance on the 18th. With Nelson on everyone’s mind, as the final pairing approached the 18th green, the entire gallery shared a moment remembering Nelson by simply tipping their hats to the sky.
Both Verplank and Donald hit the final hole in regulation. Verplank held a one stroke lead and Donald could not convert his putt to tie Verplank.
Verplank made his two foot par putt to win, lifted his hands into the air and pointed to the sky, sharing his win with Nelson like other champions had done for 38 years before. Normally, Nelson would be waiting for the winner after the 18th hole but this year it was Nelson’s wife, Peggy, whom awaited Verplank after his win.
The win was Verplank’s fifth PGA Tour win in his career and his first since the 2001 Bell Canadian Open. But, to Verplank the win was more than just another tournament.
Verplank grew up playing golf in Dallas, Texas and in the Texas golfing community Nelson’s legend, like everything else in Texas, was larger than life. Later in Verplank’s professional career, Nelson and he developed a personal relationship with their soft-spoken, modest attitudes meshing well. Verplank looked to be the perfect candidate to usher in a new era in the EDS Byron Nelson Championship without its namesake.
This week the PGA Tour travels to North Carolina for the Wachovia Championship. Check-in all week with hookedongolf.com for updates and results.
