Tiger Woods puts some teeth into Nelson Classic
By Frank Luksa
The Dallas Morning News
(KRT)
DALLAS - At the Masters last month, the man to my right with
the chicken-scratch symbols on his computer screen hailed from
Seoul, South Korea. To my left in the media center sat a three-person
contingent from Spain. With usual suave, I rounded out an international
cast on the back row.
This is the way it is at major golf tournaments. A guy from
London strolls past. Here a chap from Australia, there a fellow
filing to Japan. There's mix and mingle among scribes from many
foreign lands, such as Cleveland and Boston.
Domestic lure of the Masters and U.S. Open is as dramatic in
terms of volume. Writers appear from Washington, New York and
Los Angeles. Every golf magazine and digest takes notes. All the
big-time TV and radio outlets grind away. The event is sold out.
Desperate people wave signs offering $4,000 for a four-day badge
that costs $100.
Recall of media fervor from the Masters was prompted by the
unparalleled prelude to next week's GTE Byron Nelson Classic at
Los Colinas. Major tournaments are world-wide special every year.
Most regular stops on the PGA Tour transfix the locals as does
an annual appearance of the Globetrotters.
Whoever won the MCI Classic - quick, name him - created big
waves in Hilton Head. Nationally and internationally, there was
lack of huge tremor. The earth didn't move around the globe.
The Nelson often falls into the same category. The thought
is not meant unkindly, especially toward thousands of Salemanship
Club volunteers who donate time and energy to the project. Or
to its most distinctive treasure, namesake legend Byron Nelson,
the kindest man I've ever met in sports.
It's an excellent tournament devoted to a charity of high purpose,
attracts a high-caliber field and often provides a dramatic finish.
But that hasn't been enough to separate the Nelson from events
elsewhere that are splendidly run, give to charity, get won in
a playoff but still fail to stir the national pulse. As in Phil
Blarmar's victory Sunday in the Shell Houston Open, despite record
attendance.
Put it this way. For many a previous year in the Nelson press
room, the guy to my right was from Fort Worth and the person on
the other side had flown in all the away from Houston. The guys
from Austin drove. Few if any national media made the Nelson an
annual must-report event.
(ital) Sports Illustrated (end ital) showed up now and then.
The New York Times has been to the Nelson, the last time to write
as much about Byron Nelson as his tournament. Clusters of Japanese
cameras followed someone such as Jumbo Osaki. Beyond them, the
press room was cozy and clubby, and we didn't have to deal with
strange accents from places like Baltimore.
Not this year.
The anticipated coming of Tiger Woods has elevated the Nelson
beyond its normal status. This Nelson will be no look-alike. This
Nelson can be classified as a mini-major because of the entry
of Woods - expected to become official by Friday. The level of
expectation for Tiger's first PGA appearance since his record-setting
Masters victory rivals Christmas morning or a first marriage.
When Tiger officially commits to the Nelson, tournament officials
likely will be overrun with more media credential requests. As
of Monday afternoon, they were already swamped and wondering what
to do with the fellow from Nikon Sports News in Tokyo who said
if he could obtain a media badge, he'd best get started now for
Irving.
The Brits are coming for the first time and in force. Three
newspapers from London - the Times, Sun and Daily Mail - will
report on Tigermania and the odd behavior of colonists in Texas.
The daunting task for natives will be to explain our Republic
of Texas branch.
Other media outlets that were absent last year but now are
en route: CBS News, NBC News, New York Times, New York Times Magazine,
Washington Post, USA Today, Baltimore Sun and Boston Globe. Were
Fuzzy Zoeller entered to discuss fried chicken and collard greens
with Tiger, the National Enquirer would want in.
Media requests for the Nelson a year ago totaled 348. On Monday,
the number had reached 478 and was still climbing. The Nelson
is for the first time sold out a fortnight before anyone tees
off.
"All of a sudden, he (Woods) has that kind of power,"
said tournament chairman Frank Houseman. "I've never seen
anything like this for interest in golf. When he comes out in
public, it's a happening."
The best feature is that it's happened to the Nelson, the PGA's
next mini-major tournament.
(Frank Luksa is a sports columnist for the Dallas Morning News.
Write to him at: Dallas Morning News, Communications Center, Dallas,
Texas 75265.)
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