Pro Golfers Stiffing Legacy of Byron Nelson

[Favpack]

I'm never one to get all uptight over a pro golfers schedule, but I think it stinks all these top flight pros are skipping the Byron Nelson this year because "Byron has passed and won't be with us".

Puhlease! Byron Nelson has done more for golf than any other human in the past 50 years, and they should have shown up to tribute this man at least one more year. Pathetic that so many are passing on Dallas this week. Some of these guys act like it's a huge deal to play a tourney 3 weeks after the Masters and 2 weeks before the Players.

If Tiger were such a dynamiic leader - he should have said "I'll be there to tribute Byron's legacy, and I would hope others will do the same".

And we wonder why the U.S. Ryder Cup team sucks so bad right now.

[Pearland Longhorn]

You're last comment cracked me up... Everyone that truly is in the know in professional golf knows what is going on with the Ryder Cup.. It simply isnt a big deal to the pros. It does not affect their legacy. They KNOW they are better than the Euros. The last 8 years of majors proves that... Great golfers got that way because they are independant contractors. They like things to be under their own control. The idea of team golf is just stupid...

Now as far as not showing up to Byrons event... The top level pros all had great relationships with Byron. He was a mentor to them all. Every opportunity they had to reach him for advice was taken. They don't feel obligated to show up to his event just so some fans can feel like they are showing respect.

[twcpfan1]

You're last comment cracked me up... Everyone that truly is in the know in professional golf knows what is going on with the Ryder Cup.. It simply isnt a big deal to the pros. It does not affect their legacy. They KNOW they are better than the Euros. The last 8 years of majors proves that... Great golfers got that way because they are independant contractors. They like things to be under their own control. The idea of team golf is just stupid...

Now as far as not showing up to Byrons event... The top level pros all had great relationships with Byron. He was a mentor to them all. Every opportunity they had to reach him for advice was taken. They don't feel obligated to show up to his event just so some fans can feel like they are showing respect.


Easy to say when you're losing. That was not the case in Brookline a few years ago, was it?

[Pearland Longhorn]

Easy to say when you're losing. That was not the case in Brookline a few years ago, was it?

There is a little bit of truth in what you said. But my answer to that is when they lost back to back cups with FAR superior talent they just quit caring as much. I try and tell people this all the time. Ask any pro how winning the Ryder Cup would compare to a Major or in some cases even a regular weekly event. It doesn't... It is a MUCH bigger deal to the casual sports fan than it is to someone that actually plays golf for a living.




P.S. It has been 30 Major Championships since a European has won...:eek: :cool: The 1999 Open... Ask a Euro if he would trade Ryder Cup dominance for just ONE of those majors. He would.

[Favpack]

We can agree the U.S. pros don't care - about the Ryder or about paying tribute to Byron. As I said if Tiger or any other top pro had done the classy thing they'd all be there this year. Next year? - fine, skip the event, but this year's event is a tribute to Byron.

Some top advertising execs are saying the Nelson's gonna be gone anyway - the pros don't want to stay in Texas two weeks in a row. Florida's no problem - but the pros don't like Texas for some reason.

[PaulinPlano]

Mickelson is coming. Singh is coming. Sergio Garcia, Sabbatini, Justin Leonard, Charles Howell III, Stuart Appleby...

Yea, not everyone is coming and I for one am not disappointed Tiger is not coming. If you go out there every year for the past 19 years as I have to watch golf, when Tiger has played, the crowds have been too much.

My huge disappointment is the Fred Couples is not coming this year. I got a golf ball from Fred last year.:) I walk the course every year with Fred when he plays.

[Favpack]

I knew Phil was coming - glad to hear some of the other pros mentioned there will be there. Last time I was there I walked with Lee Trevino - who was actually in contention Thurs/Friday - many moons ago.

[PaulinPlano]

I knew Phil was coming - glad to hear some of the other pros mentioned there will be there. Last time I was there I walked with Lee Trevino - who was actually in contention Thurs/Friday - many moons ago.

:eek: great golfer. Ugly swing!:p

[twcpfan1]

There is a little bit of truth in what you said. But my answer to that is when they lost back to back cups with FAR superior talent they just quit caring as much. I try and tell people this all the time. Ask any pro how winning the Ryder Cup would compare to a Major or in some cases even a regular weekly event. It doesn't... It is a MUCH bigger deal to the casual sports fan than it is to someone that actually plays golf for a living.




P.S. It has been 30 Major Championships since a European has won...:eek: :cool: The 1999 Open... Ask a Euro if he would trade Ryder Cup dominance for just ONE of those majors. He would.

It's the difference in the Sporting Cultures. Americans are totally lost when it comes to the concept of team sports. The only team sport they dominate these days is the one nobody else plays. Football. I wouldn't be so sure about your last question. The Ryder Cup is the ultimate to a lot of Europeans. And representing your country is the ultimate honor. The salaries in soccer are comparable to any American sport, but you do not have to beg those millionaires to suit up for the World Cup.

The Ryder Cup is a big big deal to the Americans. It's just not a format they are terribly comfortable with.

[PaulinPlano]

It's the difference in the Sporting Cultures. Americans are totally lost when it comes to the concept of team sports. The only team sport they dominate these days is the one nobody else plays. Football. I wouldn't be so sure about your last question. The Ryder Cup is the ultimate to a lot of Europeans. And representing your country is the ultimate honor. The salaries in soccer are comparable to any American sport, but you do not have to beg those millionaires to suit up for the World Cup.

The Ryder Cup is a big big deal to the Americans. It's just not a format they are terribly comfortable with.

I would say it is not as important to The golfers in their 30s like Mickelson and Tiger. It is more important to the older golfers in their mid and late 40s now. But many of them are not top players anymore.

[Favpack]

Good karma that Scott Verplank wins it. The Dallas product who grew up playing rounds with Byron was in tears and considers the Nelson a "fifth major to him".