Veterans Day is the day to remember the real price of freedom.
It is etched on the thousands of tombstones in Arlington National Cemetery.
Golf has had its share of veterans but perhaps the most forgotten veteran is three-time major champion, 10 time-winner on the PGA Tour — Larry Nelson.
Nelson served as an infantryman in Vietnam. He was good enough to fight for his country but was never judged good enough by the PGA of America to lead a Ryder Cup team despite the fact that Nelson won the PGA twice! Not once, TWICE! Winning the PGA typically assures the champion will one day be a Ryder Cup captain.
Nelson, now 68 years old, was passed over time and again by the PGA of America, the ultimate disrespect for the man who won their ultimate championship twice and the U.S. Open in 1983.
During his playing days, Nelson was a quiet competitor who carried himself with the utmost dignity. He was simply a nice man, one of the nicest.
So how can the PGA of America pass over a man who was brave enough to fight for his country? How can such a man not be good enough to lead a bunch of golfers?
It remains today one of golf’s great mysteries, the ultimate embarrassment to the PGA of America.
So on this Veterans Day we will say thank-you to Vietnam Veteran Larry Nelson and to the other professional golfers who served: Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino, Orville Moody, Bobby Jones, Horton Smith, Lloyd Mangrum, Porky Oliver, Jim Turnesa, Jack Fleck, Sam Snead, Ed Dougherty, Charlie Owens and Nate Starks, to name a few.
As a side note, Mangrum was the recipient of two Purple Heart medals and was at Utah Beach on D-Day.
Thank-you gentleman.
Thanks to all of our military veterans, all the men and women who fight for our country.
God bless all of you!
2 Comments
Hon. John McDermid
I had the honour and privilege to meet Larry Nelson at his inauguration into the World Golf Hall of Fame. What a wonderful gentleman and his family are terrific. I agree he should have been Ryder Cup Captain and the PGA had a great opportunity at the time they named Tom Watson as Captain. Tom is a great guy but it was Larry who should have led that team.
The PGA is a great organization but they make mistakes and this oversight is one of them. PGA, quite grasping at straws and make Larry Nelson the Captain soon. You won’t be sorry.
Joe Campbell
The PGA isn’t the only golf organization to have slighted Larry Nelson. For years the defending US Open champion was featured on the USGA’s official program but not the year after Nelson’s victory. Also, regarding the Ryder Cup, Larry has one of the best records in Ryder Cup history — both individually and when partnered with Lanny Watkins.