So, I got curious about older golfers the other day. Just kinda popped into my head, you know? Started poking around online, looking at guys from maybe the 70s and 80s. And I landed on this name, Larry Nelson.
Didn’t know much about him, really. So, I started digging a bit. First thing that jumped out? This guy apparently didn’t even really play golf seriously until he was in his 20s. Like, after he got back from serving in Vietnam. That seemed wild to me. Most pros these days start when they’re kids, right?
My little research dive
I spent a bit of time watching some old clips. His swing looked pretty simple, solid. Nothing fancy. Then I read somewhere he basically taught himself using Ben Hogan’s book, “Five Lessons”. Can you imagine? Just reading a book and getting that good? Takes some serious focus, I guess.
Found out he actually won quite a bit. Not just regular tournaments, but majors too. Let’s see, what did my notes say?
- PGA Championship: He got that one twice, I think it was 1981 and 1987.
- U.S. Open: Nabbed that in 1983.
Three majors. That’s a heck of a career for anyone, let alone someone who started late. He seemed like a quiet guy, just went about his business. Not like some of the flashy personalities you see.
Made me think a bit
His whole story… starting late, after going through something heavy like military service in a war. It kinda puts things in perspective. I was messing around on the driving range last week, getting frustrated ’cause I couldn’t hit the ball straight. Felt like I was wasting my time.
Then you read about Nelson, teaching himself from a book, grinding it out after experiencing real hardship. Makes my bad shots seem pretty unimportant, you know? It’s not like knowing about him suddenly fixed my slice, hah. Lord knows, that’s still a mess. Tried thinking about his simple swing, but yeah, easier said than done.
It just reminded me that people find their way on different timelines. You see these young guns dominate sports and sometimes feel like if you didn’t start something early, you missed your chance. Nelson’s career is kinda proof that’s not always true. Doesn’t mean I’m gonna suddenly become a scratch golfer, but it was interesting to learn about. Just a solid player with a pretty unique backstory.
Anyway, that was my little exploration for the day. Just thought I’d share. Interesting fellow, Larry Nelson.
