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Byron Nelson

United States · born , Waxahachie, Texas, USA · died

5major championships

Summary

  • First major 1937 The Masters
  • Last major 1945 PGA Championship
  • Ryder Cup 2 Cups · 3-1-0 · 3 points (75.0%)
  • Ryder Cup captain 1965
  • Runner-up in majors 6 times

Wins

  1. 1937 The Masters Augusta National Golf Club · 283 (-5) · by 2 strokes from Ralph Guldahl
  2. 1939 U.S. Open Philadelphia C.C. · 284 (+8) · won a playoff against Craig Wood and Denny Shute
  3. 1940 PGA Championship Hershey Country Club · won the final 1 up against Sam Snead
  4. 1942 The Masters Augusta National Golf Club · 280 (-8) · won a playoff against Ben Hogan
  5. 1945 PGA Championship Moraine Country Club · won the final 4 & 3 against Sam Byrd

Near misses

  1. 1937 The Open Carnoustie Golf Links (Championship Course) · finished 5 · 296
  2. 1939 PGA Championship Pomonok Country Club · runner-up to Henry Picard · lost the final won on 37th hole
  3. 1941 The Masters Augusta National Golf Club · runner-up to Craig Wood · 283
  4. 1941 PGA Championship Cherry Hills Country Club · runner-up to Vic Ghezzi · lost the final won on 38th hole
  5. 1944 PGA Championship Manito Golf and Country Club · runner-up to Bob Hamilton · lost the final 1 up
  6. 1946 U.S. Open Canterbury G.C. · runner-up to Lloyd Mangrum · playoff: 36 holes
  7. 1947 The Masters Augusta National Golf Club · runner-up to Jimmy Demaret · 283

Ryder Cup

2 Cups, 4 matches: 3 won, 1 lost, 0 halved, 3 points. Foursomes 2-0-0, four-ball 0-0-0, singles 1-1-0.

  1. 1937 Southport and Ainsdale Golf Club USA · USA won 8–4 · 1-1-0, 1 point
  2. 1947 Portland Golf Club USA · USA won 11–1 · 2-0-0, 2 points
  3. 1965 Captain USA · won 19.5–12.5

Rivals

Beat him

Beaten in finals and playoffs

Sam ByrdLost the 1945 PGA Championship final to Byron Nelson

Ryder Cup partners

Ryder Cup opponents

Next in the chain: Henry Picard's rivals →

Moments

  1. 1937 Masters Trailing by four entering the 12th on Sunday, Nelson played the 12th and 13th in birdie-eagle while Guldahl went double bogey-bogey, a six-stroke swing.
  2. 1937 Masters The Nelson Bridge over Rae's Creek near the 13th tee was dedicated in 1958 to commemorate Nelson's finish.
  3. 1940 PGA Championship Snead was 1 up with three to play, but Nelson squared the final on the 34th hole.
  4. 1940 PGA Championship On the 35th Snead missed a six-foot birdie putt and Nelson birdied to go 1 up, then parred the 36th to win.
  5. 1942 Masters Hogan closed with a birdie for 70 to tie, and Nelson then missed a 12-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole to force an 18-hole Monday playoff.
  6. 1942 Masters Nelson fell behind early in the playoff but played holes 8 through 13 in five under to win by one, with Bobby Jones as referee; it was the last Masters until 1946.
  7. 1945 PGA Championship Two down to Mike Turnesa with four holes left in the second round, Nelson went birdie (15th), birdie from three feet (16th), then holed a 25-foot eagle putt on the par-5 17th to win 1 up.
  8. 1945 PGA Championship In the final Byrd birdied the last four holes of the morning 18 and went 2 up on the 21st, then lost six of the next eight holes.
  9. 1937 Ryder Cup Henry Cotton beat Tony Manero 5 & 3 and Dai Rees beat Byron Nelson 3 & 1, but the USA won the last four singles to become the first visiting team to win.

Records and firsts

  1. — PGA Championship most losing finals · 3 (Byron Nelson (1939, 1941, 1944))
  2. — PGA Championship medalists who went on to win · 4 players (Walter Hagen (1926, 1927), Olin Dutra (1932), Byron Nelson (1945, shared medal) and Doug Ford (1955); Golf Compendium calls Ford "one of four medalists" to win)
  3. 1939 PGA Championship PGA Championship match-play finals (finals, won, lost): 5 · 2 · 3 (1939; 1940; 1941; 1944; 1945)
  4. — PGA Championship most runner-up finishes (all eras) · 4 (Jack Nicklaus; Byron Nelson lost 3 finals; Lanny Wadkins and Tiger Woods 3 each)

Results by championship

    Best day

    1937 Masters

    Augusta National Golf Club · 283 (-5) · by 2 strokes from Ralph Guldahl

    Trailing by four entering the 12th on Sunday, Nelson played the 12th and 13th in birdie-eagle while Guldahl went double bogey-bogey, a six-stroke swing.

    The Nelson Bridge over Rae's Creek near the 13th tee was dedicated in 1958 to commemorate Nelson's finish.

    Chosen by rule: his widest winning margin in a major. Year page: 1937.

    Career line, 1937–1947

    Masters
    1937 Masters: won1941 Masters: runner-up to Craig Wood1942 Masters: won1947 Masters: runner-up to Jimmy Demaret
    PGA Championship
    1939 PGA Championship: runner-up to Henry Picard1940 PGA Championship: won1941 PGA Championship: runner-up to Vic Ghezzi1944 PGA Championship: runner-up to Bob Hamilton1945 PGA Championship: won
    U.S. Open
    1939 U.S. Open: won1946 U.S. Open: runner-up to Lloyd Mangrum
    The Open
    1937 The Open: finished 5
    Ryder Cup
    1937 Ryder Cup (USA): 1-1-01947 Ryder Cup (USA): 2-0-0
    19401945

    14 results. Hover or tap a mark; click it for the year.

    • Major win
    • Runner-up
    • Top 10
    • Ryder Cup, USA

    Byron Nelson was born on February 4, 1912, in Waxahachie, Texas, USA. Nelson won 5 major championships: 2 Masters (1937, 1942), 2 PGA Championships (1940, 1945) and 1 U.S. Open (1939). Nelson played in 2 Ryder Cups for USA (1937, 1947), winning 3, losing 1 and halving 0 of 4 matches for 3 points, and captained the side in 1965.

    See Byron Nelson in our rooms: The Masters, U.S. Open, The Open, Greatest Golfer by State and Every Ground.

    Cards you pull this visit stack here. Tap one to go back to it.

    The record

    Wins in the majors (5)

    1. 1937 The Masters Augusta National Golf Club · 283 (-5) · by 2 strokes from Ralph Guldahl
    2. 1939 U.S. Open Philadelphia C.C., Conshohocken, PA · 284 (+8) · won a playoff against Craig Wood and Denny Shute (36 holes; Nelson 68, 70)
    3. 1940 PGA Championship Hershey Country Club, Hershey, Pennsylvania · won the final 1 up against Sam Snead
    4. 1942 The Masters Augusta National Golf Club · 280 (-8) · won a playoff against Ben Hogan (Nelson 69; Hogan 70)
    5. 1945 PGA Championship Moraine Country Club, Kettering, Ohio · won the final 4 & 3 against Sam Byrd

    Near misses

    Top-10 finishes are listed for The Open, the one championship with a full top 10 every year.

    1. 1937 The Open Carnoustie Golf Links (Championship Course) · finished 5 · 296
    2. 1939 PGA Championship Pomonok Country Club · runner-up to Henry Picard · lost the final won on 37th hole
    3. 1941 The Masters Augusta National Golf Club · runner-up to Craig Wood · 283
    4. 1941 PGA Championship Cherry Hills Country Club · runner-up to Vic Ghezzi · lost the final won on 38th hole
    5. 1944 PGA Championship Manito Golf and Country Club · runner-up to Bob Hamilton · lost the final 1 up
    6. 1946 U.S. Open Canterbury G.C. · runner-up to Lloyd Mangrum · playoff: 36 holes
    7. 1947 The Masters Augusta National Golf Club · runner-up to Jimmy Demaret · 283

    U.S. Open top-10 finishes in his career: 4 (GNN U.S. Open room data).

    Ryder Cup

    Nelson played 2 Ryder Cups for USA: 4 matches, 3 won, 1 lost, 0 halved, 3 points (75.0% of those available). By format: foursomes 2-0-0, four-ball 0-0-0, singles 1-1-0 (won-lost-halved).

    1. 1937 Southport and Ainsdale Golf Club USA · USA won 8–4 · 1-1-0, 1 point
    2. 1947 Portland Golf Club USA · USA won 11–1 · 2-0-0, 2 points
    3. 1965 Captain USA · won 19.5–12.5

    Partners, with matches played together: Ed Dudley (1), Herman Barron (1).

    PGA Championship match play

    Every recorded match in our bracket file, 1916–1957: 37 won, 7 lost, including 2 of 5 finals.

    1. 1937 Round of 64 beat Leo Diegel 2 & 1
    2. 1937 Round of 32 beat Craig Wood 4 & 2
    3. 1937 Round of 16 beat Johnny Farrell 5 & 4
    4. 1937 Quarterfinal lost to Ky Laffoon 2 up
    5. 1938 Round of 64 beat Clarence Yockey 5 & 4
    6. 1938 Round of 32 beat Alvin Krueger won on 20th hole
    7. 1938 Round of 16 beat Harry Bassler 11 & 10
    8. 1938 Quarterfinal lost to Jimmy Hines 2 & 1
    9. 1939 Round of 64 beat Chuck Garringer 4 & 2
    10. 1939 Round of 32 beat William Francis 3 & 1
    11. 1939 Round of 16 beat Johnny Revolta 6 & 4
    12. 1939 Quarterfinal beat Emerick Kocsis 10 & 9
    13. 1939 Semifinal beat Dutch Harrison 9 & 8
    14. 1939 Final lost to Henry Picard won on 37th hole
    15. 1940 Round of 64 beat Dick Shoemaker 4 & 3
    16. 1940 Round of 32 beat Frank Walsh won on 20th hole
    17. 1940 Round of 16 beat Dick Metz 2 & 1
    18. 1940 Quarterfinal beat Eddie Kirk 6 & 5
    19. 1940 Semifinal beat Ralph Guldahl 1 up
    20. 1940 Final beat Sam Snead 1 up
    21. 1941 Round of 64 beat Bunny Torpey 1 up
    22. 1941 Round of 32 beat William Heinlein 1 up
    23. 1941 Round of 16 beat Ralph Guldahl 4 & 3
    24. 1941 Quarterfinal beat Ben Hogan 2 & 1
    25. 1941 Semifinal beat Gene Sarazen 2 up
    26. 1941 Final lost to Vic Ghezzi won on 38th hole
    27. 1942 Round of 32 beat Harry Nettlebladt 5 & 3
    28. 1942 Round of 16 beat Joe Kirkwood 2 & 1
    29. 1942 Quarterfinal beat Harry Cooper won on 39th hole
    30. 1942 Semifinal lost to Jim Turnesa won on 37th hole
    31. 1944 Round of 32 beat Mike DeMassey 5 & 4
    32. 1944 Round of 16 beat Mark Fry 7 & 6
    33. 1944 Quarterfinal beat Willie Goggin 4 & 3
    34. 1944 Semifinal beat Chuck Congdon 8 & 7
    35. 1944 Final lost to Bob Hamilton 1 up
    36. 1945 Round of 32 beat Gene Sarazen 4 & 3
    37. 1945 Round of 16 beat Mike Turnesa 1 up
    38. 1945 Quarterfinal beat Denny Shute 3 & 2
    39. 1945 Semifinal beat Claude Harmon 5 & 4
    40. 1945 Final beat Sam Byrd 4 & 3
    41. 1946 Round of 64 beat Frank Rodio 8 & 7
    42. 1946 Round of 32 beat Larry Lamberger 3 & 2
    43. 1946 Round of 16 beat Herman Barron 3 & 2
    44. 1946 Quarterfinal lost to Ed Oliver 1 up

    Records and firsts

    Rows from our record tables that name this player, worded as the tables word them.

    1. — PGA Championship most losing finals · 3 (Byron Nelson (1939, 1941, 1944))
    2. — PGA Championship medalists who went on to win · 4 players (Walter Hagen (1926, 1927), Olin Dutra (1932), Byron Nelson (1945, shared medal) and Doug Ford (1955); Golf Compendium calls Ford "one of four medalists" to win)
    3. 1939 PGA Championship PGA Championship match-play finals (finals, won, lost): 5 · 2 · 3 (1939; 1940; 1941; 1944; 1945)
    4. — PGA Championship most runner-up finishes (all eras) · 4 (Jack Nicklaus; Byron Nelson lost 3 finals; Lanny Wadkins and Tiger Woods 3 each)

    Sources

    Elsewhere: Wikipedia.

    Every fact on this page comes from Golf Network News data sets compiled in October 2026 (Masters, PGA Championship, The Open, U.S. Women's Open, Ryder Cup, PGA Tour 2024–2026, major host sites, Champions Dinner menus, and the U.S. Open and state rooms). These are the sources those rows cite.

    1. golfcompendium.com: masters winners
    2. golfcompendium.com: us open winners
    3. golfcompendium.com: british open winners
    4. golfcompendium.com: pga championship winners
    5. Wikipedia: Byron Nelson
    6. golfcompendium.com: pga tour career wins
    7. golfcompendium.com: 1941 masters tournament
    8. golfcompendium.com: 1947 masters tournament
    9. Wikipedia: Masters Tournament
    10. pga.com: list masters champions
    11. WP: List of American Ryder Cup golfers
    12. rydercup.com — link no longer works (checked October 17, 2026): https://rydercup.com/news-media/usa/ryder-cup-team-usa-past-captains
    13. Golf Compendium
    14. golfcompendium.com: 1937 masters tournament
    15. Wikipedia: 1937 Masters Tournament
    16. golf.com: masters purse masters winners payouts alltime
    17. todays-golfer.com: how the masters prize money has changed over the years
    18. pgatour.com: what is the cut at the masters tournament augusta national (archived copy; the original link no longer works)
    19. todays-golfer.com: cut rules
    20. golfcompendium.com: 1957 masters
    21. nbcsports.com: by the numbers jumpsuit numbers for every masters champions caddie
    22. liveabout.com: what are the yardages at augusta national during the masters 1564592
    23. GNN U.S. Open room (champions data)
    24. PGA of America winners & venues
    25. Golf Compendium 1940
    26. The Golf News Net history table (2026)
    27. Today's Golfer purse history
    28. Trenham, Philadelphia PGA history 1940–1949
    29. Trenham, four majors in five years
    30. PGA of America 2013 media guide, p. 91
    31. golfcompendium.com: 1942 masters
    32. Wikipedia: 1942 Masters Tournament
    33. golfmonthly.com: masters field shaping up to be smallest since 1985
    34. Golf Compendium 1945
    35. PGA of America, Nelson 1945
    36. Sports Illustrated Vault, Nelson 1945 (1995) — link no longer works (checked October 17, 2026): https://vault.si.com/vault/1995/07/24/major-hurdle-to-overcome-a-history-of-failure-in-the-pga-championship-byron-nelson-had-to-beat-a-man-with-a-past
    37. Trenham, Snead and Turnesa 1942
    38. R&A 1937
    39. Golf Compendium 1937
    40. Golf Compendium 1938
    41. Golf Compendium 1939
    42. Golf Compendium 1941
    43. Golf Compendium 1942
    44. Golf Compendium 1944
    45. Golf Compendium 1946
    46. GC: 1937 ryder cup
    47. Wikipedia: 1937 Ryder Cup
    48. GC: 1947 ryder cup
    49. Wikipedia: 1947 Ryder Cup
    50. Golf Compendium 1955
    51. Golf Compendium 1932
    52. Trenham, Philadelphia PGA history 1921–1929