Born in Fort Payne on September 10, 1947, Nelson played high school and college baseball in Kennesaw, GA until he took up golf at age 21 and was on PGA Tour by 1974. He won 10 PGA events and is the only Alabamian to win three majors (PGA Championship 1981, 1987, U.S. Open 1987). He was in the top 100 money winners on PGA tour before joining the Senior Tour in September, 1997. An Active course designer, he has 11 course open for play nationwide. Selected to the U.S. Ryder Cup team in 1979, 1981, and 1987, and elected into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 1989.
