Insider: Nelson returns to Atlanta Athletic Club

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Larry Nelson won the first of his three major championships in the '81 PGA Championship at Atlanta Athletic Club

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. -- It's not often that something is so neatly packaged and presented as this. It's nice when it happens and when it happens to nice people, so much the better.

For Larry Nelson, the 2011 PGA Championship is all about returning to where it started. It is at the Atlanta Athletic Club that Nelson won the first of his three major titles, the PGA Championship, 30 years ago.

It is here, just down the road in Marietta, that Nelson makes his home. It is here, in Kennesaw, that Nelson first went to work in the golf industry as a shop assistant.

And it is here this week that Nelson, 63, was honored with the PGA of America's highest honor, the PGA Distinguished Service Award. The honor was bestowed Wednesday night at the organization's annual gala and a few hours later, Nelson teed it up once again in the PGA Championship, a title he also won in 1987 at PGA National Golf Club.

That's the neat package. Everything coming together here and now, at home and where it all started.

Nelson played the 79th round of his PGA Championship career in Thursday's opening round at Atlanta Athletic Club. He shot 78. Not his lowest at the PGA Championship (66 -- back-to-back here in 1981). But not his highest, either (80).

It was Nelson's first PGA Championship in five years.

"I didn't want to take advantage of my exemption," he said. "But I didn't want to miss this opportunity. It's been a great week and (Wednesday) was an emotional evening."

Nelson knows the golf course has grown since his '81 victory and he knows it's too long for him. He takes comfort in small measures.

"Steve Stricker shot my age," Nelson said.

Nelson's story as a Vietnam war veteran has been chronicled again and again during his career as an outstanding professional golfer and his subsequent election to the World Golf Hall of Fame in St. Augustine, Florida. After his discharge from the service in 1968, Nelson returned to the work force in various capacities. During a lunch break in 1969, Nelson came upon a driving range. A few months later he was working in a Kennesaw golf shot. Six months after that, he turned professional.

Nelson wasn't a prodigy. He was 21 when he found golf and, no less significant, golf found him. He went on to win the 1983 U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club in suburban Pittsburgh and he defeated Lanny Wadkins to win the 1987 PGA Championship in the suffocating heat in Palm Beach Gardens.

The 1981 victory at Atlanta Athletic Club was a classic. The unassuming Nelson outdueled Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman, Andy North and Fuzzy Zoeller -- all multiple major champions. The victory at Oakmont was by 1 shot over Watson and demonstrated what each of those major titles told us about Nelson. He was as tough as they come, fearless and feisty, traits he exhibited in large doses during a remarkable Ryder Cup career that saw him post a 9-3-1 mark in three matches. Included in that was a perfect 5-0 record when he was the mainspring for the United States in the 1979 victory at the Greenbrier.

Nelson won 10 times on the PGA TOUR. Since 1998, he has added 19 victories on the Champions Tour. He's done it with dedication and perseverance and, of course, plenty of ability. Nobody does what Nelson has accomplished without talent.

Here's the best part. Nelson has always been as solid a human being off the course as well as on. The Distinguished Service Award honors outstanding individuals who display leadership and humanitarian qualities, including honesty, sportsmanship and a love of the game.

The responsibility of telling Nelson of his selection as the PGA of America's Distinguished Service Award belonged to President Allen Wronowski.

"That's one of the deals that you get to do as president is to make those phone calls," Wronowski said. "Larry's reaction was absolutely amazing. He's just a fine gentleman and he's going to be a great representative of the award ... just a fine, outstanding person and one of golf's consummate champions."

Nelson, who grew up in Cobb County, always has acknowledged how special it was to win the PGA Championship in front of family and friends. He's never been shy about expressing his affection for Atlanta Athletic Club.

And he's not reticent to say how much he's enjoying the week, every facet of it. He is in the field as a Category One participant: Past champion.

And remember that neat little package? There's one more thing, and it's not so little but it puts the perfect bow on it.

Larry Nelson is competing against the best this week. As an athlete and competitor, he cherishes those opportunities. And when it's the last time, as this is the last PGA Championship for Nelson, there are no bounds for what it means and how it will be remembered, or the fact that it will be in front of family and friends.

Nelson's oldest son, Drew, caddied for him Thursday. The young son, Josh, will be on the bag for Friday's second round. After a couple of solid practice rounds, Nelson was optimistic that he might reach his goal.

"My goal is to shoot under-par," Nelson said. "I get one more chance."