Larry Nelson
Larry Nelson | |||
---|---|---|---|
Personal information | |||
Full name | Larry Gene Nelson | ||
Born | Fort Payne, Alabama | September 10, 1947||
Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | ||
Weight | 150 lb (68 kg; 11 st) | ||
Sporting nationality | ![]() | ||
Residence | Marietta, Georgia | ||
Career | |||
College | Kennesaw Junior College | ||
Turned professional | 1971 | ||
Current tour(s) | Champions Tour | ||
Former tour(s) | PGA Tour | ||
Professional wins | 42 | ||
Highest ranking | 12 (July 17, 1988)[1] | ||
Number of wins by tour | |||
PGA Tour | 10 | ||
Japan Golf Tour | 4 | ||
PGA Tour Champions | 19 (tied 10th all time) | ||
Other | 9 | ||
Best results in major championships (wins: 3) | |||
Masters Tournament | 5th: 1984 | ||
PGA Championship | Won: 1981, 1987 | ||
U.S. Open | Won: 1983 | ||
The Open Championship | T12: 1980 | ||
Achievements and awards | |||
|
Larry Gene Nelson (born September 10, 1947) is an American professional golfer who has won numerous tournaments at both the PGA Tour and Champions Tour level.
Nelson was born in Fort Payne, Alabama and grew up in Acworth, Georgia, northwest of Atlanta. He didn't play the game as a child – atypical for a successful professional golfer – in high school he focused on basketball and baseball. Nelson took up golf at the age of 21 after he returned from serving in the infantry in Vietnam (Nelson was a 20-year-old newlywed when he was drafted into the U.S. Army).[2] Nelson was first introduced to golf by Ken Hummel, a soldier and friend in his infantry unit, and Nelson carefully studied Ben Hogan's book The Five Fundamentals of Golf while learning how to play the game.[3] He soon found that he had a talent for the game, breaking 100 the first time he played and 70 within nine months. He went on to graduate from Kennesaw Junior College in 1970 and turned professional the following year. He qualified for the PGA Tour at 27. His breakthrough year came in 1979, when he won twice and finished second on the money list to Tom Watson.
Nelson won 10 times on the PGA Tour, including three major championships. He earned his first major title at the 1981 PGA Championship, which he won by four strokes. In 1983 he was victorious at the U.S. Open at Oakmont, coming from seven behind at the half-way point to defeat Tom Watson by a single shot. Nelson scored a U.S. Open record 65-67 over the last 36 holes at the difficult Oakmont course, which broke a 51-year Open record established by Gene Sarazen. Nelson's 10 under par 132 record score has yet to be equaled. In 1987 he finished tied with Lanny Wadkins after the regulation 72 holes of PGA Championship, and won the title with a par at the first playoff hole.[4]
Nelson played on the U.S. Ryder Cup team in 1979, 1981, and 1987. His record of 9–3–1 is one of the best since the event became USA v Europe in 1979; it had been a perfect 9–0–0 after the first two events. He also won four tournaments on the Japan Golf Tour.
Since turning 50 in 1997 Nelson has had a successful Champions Tour career, winning 19 times, although he has not won a senior major. He was elected to the World Golf Hall of Fame in April 2006 and inducted in October 2006.[2] In 2011, Nelson received the PGA Distinguished Service Award from the PGA of America. The award "honors outstanding individuals who display leadership and humanitarian qualities, including integrity, sportsmanship and enthusiasm for the game of golf".[5]
Nelson is also active in golf course design.
Professional wins (42)
PGA Tour wins (10)
No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory | Runner(s)-up |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Mar 11, 1979 | Jackie Gleason-Inverrary Classic | −14 (67-69-67-71=274) | 3 strokes | ![]() |
2 | Jul 8, 1979 | Western Open | −2 (71-69-70-76=286) | Playoff | ![]() |
3 | Jun 8, 1980 | Atlanta Classic | −18 (66-69-68-67=270) | 7 strokes | ![]() ![]() |
4 | Apr 5, 1981 | Greater Greensboro Open | −7 (69-68-69-75=281) | Playoff | ![]() |
5 | Aug 9, 1981 | PGA Championship | −7 (70-66-66-71=273) | 4 strokes | ![]() |
6 | Jun 19, 1983 | U.S. Open | −4 (75-73-65-67=280) | 1 stroke | ![]() |
7 | Oct 21, 1984 | Walt Disney World/Oldsmobile Classic | −22 (66-66-64-70=266) | 1 stroke | ![]() |
8 | Aug 9, 1987 | PGA Championship (2) | −1 (70-72-73-72=287) | Playoff | ![]() |
9 | Oct 18, 1987 | Walt Disney World/Oldsmobile Classic (2) | −20 (68-69-68-63=268) | 1 stroke | ![]() ![]() |
10 | Jun 26, 1988 | Georgia-Pacific Atlanta Golf Classic (2) | −20 (63-66-66-73=268) | 1 stroke | ![]() |
PGA Tour playoff record (3–2)
No. | Year | Tournament | Opponent | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1979 | Danny Thomas Memphis Classic | ![]() |
Lost to birdie on second extra hole |
2 | 1979 | Western Open | ![]() |
Won with birdie on first extra hole |
3 | 1981 | Greater Greensboro Open | ![]() |
Won with birdie on second extra hole |
4 | 1987 | PGA Championship | ![]() |
Won with par on first extra hole |
5 | 1989 | GTE Byron Nelson Classic | ![]() |
Lost to birdie on first extra hole |
Japan Golf Tour wins (4)
- 1980 Tokai Classic
- 1983 Dunlop International Open
- 1989 Suntory Open
- 1991 Dunlop Phoenix
Other wins (2)
- 1978 Georgia Open
- 1988 PGA Grand Slam of Golf (United States - unofficial event)
Champions Tour wins (19)
No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory |
Runner(s)-up |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Feb 22, 1998 | American Express Invitational | −13 (63-69-71=203) | 4 strokes | ![]() |
2 | May 31, 1998 | Pittsburgh Senior Classic | −12 (65-65-74=204) | 5 strokes | ![]() |
3 | Sep 27, 1998 | Boone Valley Classic | −16 (70-65-65=200) | 2 strokes | ![]() |
4 | Feb 21, 1999 | GTE Classic | −8 (70-68-67=205) | 2 strokes | ![]() |
5 | May 2, 1999 | Bruno's Memorial Classic | −11 (70-67-68=205) | 1 stroke | ![]() |
6 | Apr 23, 2000 | Las Vegas Senior Classic | −19 (67-66-64=197) | 5 strokes | ![]() ![]() |
7 | May 28, 2000 | Boone Valley Classic | −16 (66-66-68=200) | 3 strokes | ![]() |
8 | Aug 27, 2000 | FleetBoston Classic | −13 (67-70-66=203) | 4 strokes | ![]() |
9 | Sep 3, 2000 | Foremost Insurance Championship | −18 (66-69-63=198) | 3 strokes | ![]() |
10 | Sep 24, 2000 | Bank One Senior Championship | −13 (67-68-68=203) | 6 strokes | ![]() ![]() |
11 | Oct 1, 2000 | Vantage Championship | −12 (66-63-69=198) | Playoff | ![]() ![]() |
12 | Jan 24, 2001 | MasterCard Championship | −19 (67-64-66=197) | 1 stroke | ![]() |
13 | Feb 8, 2001 | Royal Caribbean Classic | 29 pts (6-15-8=29) | 1 point | ![]() |
14 | Jun 24, 2001 | FleetBoston Classic | −15 (65-69-67=201) | 3 strokes | ![]() |
15 | Jul 8, 2001 | Farmers Charity Classic | −14 (67-67-68=202) | 1 stroke | ![]() |
16 | Oct 21, 2001 | SBC Championship | −17 (67-69-63=199) | 2 strokes | ![]() ![]() |
17 | Sep 14, 2003 | Constellation Energy Classic | −9 (67-70-70=207) | 2 strokes | ![]() ![]() |
18 | May 9, 2004 | FedEx Kinko's Classic | −7 (73-69-67=209) | 1 stroke | ![]() |
19 | Oct 10, 2004 | Administaff Small Business Classic | −14 (68-70-64=202) | Playoff | ![]() |
Champions Tour playoff record (2–3)
No. | Year | Tournament | Opponent(s) | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1998 | Cadillac NFL Golf Classic | ![]() ![]() |
Dickson won with birdie on first extra hole |
2 | 1998 | Kroger Senior Classic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Baiocchi won with birdie on second extra hole |
3 | 2000 | The Countrywide Tradition | ![]() ![]() |
Kite won with birdie on sixth extra hole Nelson eliminated with par on second hole |
4 | 2000 | Vantage Championship | ![]() ![]() |
Nelson won with birdie on sixth extra hole Dent eliminated with birdie on first hole |
5 | 2004 | Administaff Small Business Classic | ![]() |
Won with birdie on first extra hole |
Other senior wins (7)
- 1998 Wendy's 3-Tour Challenge (with Hale Irwin and Gil Morgan)
- 1999 Chrysler Senior Match Play Challenge
- 2004 Office Depot Father/Son Challenge (with son Drew)
- 2007 Del Webb Father/Son Challenge (with son Josh)
- 2008 Del Webb Father/Son Challenge (with son Drew)
- 2015 Bass Pro Shops Legends of Golf (Legends division, with Bruce Fleisher)
- 2016 Bass Pro Shops Legends of Golf (Legends division, with Bruce Fleisher)
Major championships
Wins (3)
Year | Championship | 54 holes | Winning score | Margin | Runner-up |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1981 | PGA Championship | 4 shot lead | −7 (70-66-66-71=273) | 4 strokes | ![]() |
1983 | U.S. Open | 1 shot deficit | −4 (75-73-65-67=280) | 1 stroke | ![]() |
1987 | PGA Championship (2) | 3 shot deficit | −1 (70-72-73-72=287) | Playoff1 | ![]() |
1Defeated Wadkins with a par on the first extra hole.
Results timeline
Tournament | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Masters Tournament | DNP | DNP | DNP | T31 |
U.S. Open | T21 | T54 | CUT | T4 |
The Open Championship | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
PGA Championship | T34 | T54 | T12 | T28 |
Tournament | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Masters Tournament | T6 | CUT | T7 | CUT | 5 | T36 | T36 | CUT | T33 | CUT |
U.S. Open | T60 | T20 | T19 | 1 | CUT | T39 | T35 | CUT | T62 | T13 |
The Open Championship | T12 | DNP | T32 | T53 | CUT | T55 | CUT | T48 | T13 | CUT |
PGA Championship | CUT | 1 | CUT | T36 | CUT | T23 | CUT | 1 | T38 | T46 |
Tournament | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Masters Tournament | 48 | 55 | DQ | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
U.S. Open | T14 | T3 | CUT | T46 | CUT | DNP | DNP | CUT | DNP | DNP |
The Open Championship | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
PGA Championship | CUT | CUT | T28 | T56 | CUT | CUT | WD | T71 | DNP | CUT |
Tournament | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Masters Tournament | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
U.S. Open | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
The Open Championship | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
PGA Championship | DNP | CUT | CUT | DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT | DNP | DNP | DNP |
Tournament | 2010 | 2011 |
---|---|---|
Masters Tournament | DNP | DNP |
U.S. Open | DNP | DNP |
The Open Championship | DNP | DNP |
PGA Championship | DNP | CUT |
DNP = did not play
DQ = disqualified
WD = withdrew
CUT = missed the half way cut
"T" indicates a tie for a place.
Green background for wins. Yellow background for top-10.
Summary
Tournament | Wins | 2nd | 3rd | Top-5 | Top-10 | Top-25 | Events | Cuts made |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Masters Tournament | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 14 | 9 |
U.S. Open | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 20 | 14 |
The Open Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 6 |
PGA Championship | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 27 | 13 |
Totals | 3 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 8 | 17 | 70 | 42 |
- Most consecutive cuts made – 7 (1978 PGA – 1980 Open Championship)
- Longest streak of top-10s – 2 (1981 PGA – 1982 Masters)
U.S. national team appearances
- Ryder Cup: 1979 (winners), 1981 (winners), 1987
- UBS Warburg Cup: 2001 (winners)
See also
References
- ^ "Week 29 1988 Ending 17 Jul 1988" (pdf). OWGR. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
- ^ a b "World Golf Hall of Fame member bio". Retrieved November 15, 2013.
- ^ Reinhard, Paul (June 29, 2000). "Quiet Nelson Set To Make Some Noise". The Morning Call.
- ^ "Golf Major Championships". Retrieved November 15, 2013.
- ^ "Larry Nelson to receive award from PGA". ESPN. Associated Press. April 13, 2011.
External links
- Larry Nelson at the PGA Tour official site
- Larry Nelson at the Japan Golf Tour official site
- Profile at the World Golf Hall of Fame
- American male golfers
- PGA Tour golfers
- Champions Tour golfers
- Ryder Cup competitors for the United States
- Winners of men's major golf championships
- World Golf Hall of Fame inductees
- Golfers from Alabama
- Golfers from Georgia (U.S. state)
- Kennesaw State University alumni
- People from Fort Payne, Alabama
- Sportspeople from Cobb County, Georgia
- 1947 births
- Living people