Classy Nelson event lacks star power

Since the death of Byron Nelson in 2006, the tournament named in his honor has had a tough time attracting the bigger names in golf. That trend will continue today when the 57th edition of the Byron Nelson Championship tees off at the TPC at Four Seasons Resort Las Colinas in Irving, Texas.

Defending champion Rory Sabbatini will compete against a field that will include only four of the top 25 ranked players in the world, the highest being 17th-ranked Hunter Mahan. The best the tournament could draw from the money-leader list is No. 9 Dustin Johnson.

“It’s sad,” said Corey Pavin, who is playing the event for the 23rd time. “I would like to see this field remain strong. ... Byron is fresh in my memory; to me, he is the epitome of golf, what it stands for."

The tournament's loss in stature is mainly due to Nelson's death. Between 1995 and 2005 the tournament was the place to play and marquee names made it a must-attend event out of respect to Nelson, who would hold court off the 18th hole and talk to players after they finished play.

But the TPC Four Seasons Resort course, designed and built by Robert Trent Jones Jr., has never been a favorite of tour players since it first opened in 1983. Over the years it has been remodeled and renovated numerous times but still isn't considered a top track. D.A. Weibring was hired after the 2007 tournament and his company came in a basically redid the greens, fairways and tees. The course has come a long way in the last 2 1/2 years since the changes and Sabbatini's record 261 total of last year could be challenged this year if weather conditions cooperate.

The PGA Tour schedule also has played in role in making the Nelson a less attractive event for golf's brighter lights, with many preferring to prepare for the U.S. Open with stops at next week's Colonial in Fort Worth, Texas, or Jack Nicklaus' Memorial in two weeks instead. Adding to the problem is the fact that the top event on the European Tour, the BMW PGA Championship, is also held this week. Past Nelson champions Sergio Garcia and Ernie Els are playing in England this week instead of in Irving.

Even so, the Nelson can be proud that of any tournament on the PGA Tour dating to 1970 it has the reputation of holding the closest events. Amazingly, 26 Nelsons have either been won in playoffs or by a shot. Last year's victory by two shots by Sabbatini, who closed with a 64, was the first non-playoff or one-shot victory since 2003.

It also should be noted that no other event on the PGA Tour has raised more money for charity than the Byron Nelson Championship. Since 1973 more than $112 million has been raised by the tournament's sponsor, the Salesman Club of Dallas. Last year in a bad economy $4.4 million was raised while in 2008 $6.1 million was given to charities.

A positive for the Nelson this week is the fact that the qualifying period for the U.S. Open and British Open for those outside the top 50 of the world golf rankings ends Sunday. That puts extra pressure on Graeme McDowell (currently ranked 50th), Vijay Singh (51st) J.B. Holmes (52nd) and PGA Tour rookie Rickie Fowler (54th).

A top-five finish in the Nelson would lift Fowler into the world's top 50, earning him an automatic exemption into the upcoming majors. Fowler, a 21-year-old Californian who would love to compete in next month's U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, skipped last week's Texas Open in San Antonio in order to be well-rested for the Nelson.

"I wanted to have a fresh week coming to these three tournaments -- the Colonial and Memorial but focusing on this week to play well," he told reporters at the TPC Four Seasons on Tuesday. "Now I know I need to finish top-five. We'll try and block it out but it will certainly be in the back of my mind."

Fowler, who turned professional last year and earned his PGA Tour card by tying for 15th at the qualifying tournament, has performed well this season after taking a week's break.

"I had a week off before (the) Phoenix (Open), I got second there; I had a week off before Hilton Head, and I tied for eighth," he said. "Those were some of my better finishes so I feel good coming in after a week off."

It will be interesting to see if the strategy pays off. The Golf Channel (today: 3-6 p.m.; Friday: 8:30-11:30 p.m.) and CBS (Saturday, Sunday: 3-6 p.m.) will be telecasting coverage of the Byron Nelson Championship.

For a better understanding of why Nelson is held in such esteem, check out this link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byron_Nelson

Information from GolfObserver.com, ESPN.com, the Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this post.

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