Nelson, Hogan and the Tour
PGA events in Texas the next twoweeks spur memories of greats.
Please pardon some self-indulgence with the two stories to follow. However, there is a connection as the PGA Tour is in Texas for the next two weeks, with the HP Byron Nelson Championship starting today in Irving and the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial following next week in Fort Worth.
I am lucky enough to have met both Nelson and Ben Hogan, who is closely linked with Colonial, both the tournament and the course in his hometown.
First, Nelson. In the summer of 1999, the Texas Golf Writers Association held its annual meeting at the TPC at Las Colinas.
Knowing that Nelson was to speak to our group at a casual luncheon, and knowing that he had once played with Austin’s Morris Williams Jr., I wore a cap from Morris Williams Golf Course.
Williams was one of the most promising young golfers in Texas, probably the entire country, in the late 1940s and early 1950s.
In a 12-month span, he won the 1950 Texas State Junior Championship, the 1950 Texas State Amateur Championship and the 1950 Texas PGA Championship. He appeared destined for a great professional career, but he never got the chance.
In 1953 while he was serving in the Air Force, he was killed in a plane crash during a training mission.
In his 1950 Texas PGA Championship victory, Williams was paired in the final round with Nelson, who had by that time retired from the PGA Tour.
When I met Nelson after that luncheon, we shook hands and I could see that he noticed the Morris Williams cap.
I asked if he remembered Williams.
“You bet I do,” Nelson said with some excitement in his voice. “He was a fabulous young player. He had every shot. I did not see a weakness anywhere in his game, and he was a tough competitor. Plus, he was a real fine young man. A true gentleman.
“It is an absolute shame what happened. With his talent and his personality, there is not a doubt in my mind that he would have gone on to have a great career on the PGA Tour. What a combination. He had all that talent plus Harvey (Penick) as a teacher. That would have been hard to beat.”
I had met Hogan much earlier, in the summer of 1962. I was 13 (go ahead and do the math), living in Fort Worth and very fortunate that our family had a membership at Colonial.
On one hot Saturday afternoon, I was by myself on the putting green when a caddie toting two bags walked by on the way to the first tee.
He was followed first by Roland Harper, the Colonial head pro at the time, and then Hogan.
As they reached the first tee, Harper motioned me to come over, and he asked if I’d like to follow them on their round. The expression didn’t exist then, but the answer would have been, “Well, duh.”
Harper introduced me to Hogan, we shook hands and he said, “Nice to meet you, son.” I have no idea what I said. I hope it was polite and respectful, but I was in shock.
Harper then told me, “It’s fine if you come with us. Just stay a little distance back and don’t say anything.” No problem.
As we toured the course, I saw that Harper was taking notes as Hogan talked to him, and I realized that the reason for the outing was for Hogan to point out a few alterations he wanted to see made to the course.
I wish I had been taking notes. Hogan was pretty much done with his competitive career at that time, but I clearly remember that he hit every fairway and every green. He made three birdie putts for a pedestrian 3-under 67.
I had no such luck that Hogan would say anything about his fabled “secret.” No insights into the game. If he had said anything like that I might have become something other than a lifelong 10-12 handicapper.
But even as a dumb kid, I realized at the time that I was experiencing something special. It has become even more so over the years.
Postseason plans: The University of Texas women’s team saw its 2013-14 season come to an end last week with a 19th-place finish at the NCAA Central Regional, but three other local college teams are still in action.
The St. Edward’s women begin second-round play Thursday at the NCAA Division II championships at the Rock Barn Golf & Spa in Conover, N.C., while the Longhorn men will tee off in the NCAA South/East Regional at Auburn University Golf Club in Auburn, Ala.
Next week, the St. Edward’s men will compete in the NCAA Division II championships at the Meadows Golf Course in Allendale, Mich.