Thirty-three years ago, one of golf’s most iconic meetings took place at Bel-Air Country Club in Los Angeles’ northwest suburbs.
The lucrative course, an eight-minute drive from Los Angeles Country Club, is known for its star-studded members: Carol Shelby, Diana Shaw, Clint Eastwood and Tom Cruise, to name a few. Bel-Air Country Club was also a favourite of former US Presidents Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan.
Despite the glitz, glamour, and exclusive nature of the property, Tiger Woods is perhaps the person most synonymous with the venue.
Bel-Air was the scene of Woods’ first meeting with Jack Nicklaus. The Friends of Golf Tournament, hosted at Bel-Air by Eddie Merrins, started in 1981 and continues to this day. Nicklaus was Merrins’ guest in 1991, and Woods featured, hitting shots in front of the Golden Bear.
However, another important golfing figure was present, and Woods revealed all before the 2002 Mercedes Championship.
What Byron Nelson said to Tiger Woods at Bel-Air in 1999
Bryson Nelson was also in attendance at the Friends of Golf Tournament, and the five-time major winner had some invaluable advice for the fresh-faced Woods.
“I’ll never forget when he pulled me aside at Bel-Air; he was there for the Friends of Golf Charity day,” Woods told reporters in 2002.
“He pulled me aside and just said — basically gave his opinion on my game and things that might be pitfalls in the future, what I should do. For him to say things like that, I was pretty impressionable, a really young kid, a guy I idolized, he didn’t have to do that. It really touched me. Every year I look forward to getting to Augusta, sitting down, having dinner with him, talking to him. It’s amazing how sharp he is, the things that he remembers. He’ll tell you shots he hit in 1936.”
Two years later, Woods would join forces with Butch Harmon after the US Amateur and eventually turn professional in 1996.
Byron Nelson’s remarkable cut record
Nelson will be regarded as one of the game’s all-time great players. The American held the record for the most consecutive cuts in PGA Tour history with 113. Woods broke the record, with his streak ending on 142.
The Texan won The Masters twice, coming in 1927 and 1942. The PGA Championship twice and the US Open once. Nelson’s best finish at The Open was fifth, coming in the 1937 edition.
Nelson sadly passed away at the age of 94 in 2006 but is remembered fondly across the golfing world. The yearly CJ Cup Byron Nelson takes place on the PGA Tour and usually attracts a high-quality field.
The CJ Cup was actually Scottie Scheffler’s first-ever PGA Tour event back in 2014.
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