Golf—Byron Nelson Remembered.

Jack Nicklaus has the record for the most major wins in a career. Tiger Woods is the greatest golfer of this generation, maybe ever. Arnold Palmer is credited with bringing golf to the masses. Bobby Jones helped create, the Masters, arguably the most prestigious golf tournament in world, and was the best golfer his time.

Where does Bryon Nelson fit amongst the greatest golfers of all time? Sometimes we forget the achievements of Byron Nelson, and it's nice to look back at his accomplishments and contributions to the game of golf, especially this week. This week the PGA tour is at the Byron Nelson Championship in Irving, Texas.

Nelson is most well known for his 1945 season, where he won an astonishing 18 tournaments. That's a great career for many golfers. Among the 18 victories was a PGA record 11 victories in a row. For comparison, Tiger Woods won seven tournaments in a row from the 2006 to 2007 season.

In Woods best season on tour, he won nine tournaments in 2000. That was only half of Nelson's record. Some of Nelson's other records may be even more unbreakable than the eighteen wins or eleven wins in a row streak.

From 1942 to 1946, Nelson finished in the top ten 65 consecutive times. During that time, he also won 34 times. That's an average of nearly nine victories a season. Tiger Woods has the record for most consecutive cuts made at 142. Did you know it was Byron Nelson's record of 113 he broke?

The PGA Tour defines cuts made as receiving a paycheck. During Nelson's era only the top twenty finishers received a paycheck. That means Nelson finished in the top 20 113 consecutive times. That might be one of professional golf's most unbreakable records.

At the young age of 34, Nelson basically retired from golf. He still did make occasional appearances, though, for several years after his semi-retirement. Nelson finished his career with 52 career victories and five major championships.

If he had played full time until age 50, he may have won another 30 or 40 tournaments. Nelson's legacy reaches beyond pure statistics though.

The USGA's robot for testing golf clubs and golf balls for conformity is named "Iron Byron." Legend has it that Nelson's swing was so consistent and repeatable, only a mechanical man could duplicate it. Byron Nelson's golf swing is credited as one of the first modern golf swings.

The swing that employed more hips and legs. The wristier method was employed by most of the previous generations of golfers. Nelson was also known as one of golf's finest gentlemen, and mentored many young golfers, including the great Tom Watson. So while the Bryon Nelson Championship is played this week, we remember who the tournament is named after.