Editor’s note: John Maginnes played the PGA TOUR for a decade and also won three times on the Nationwide Tour. Maginnes, who now works as an analyst for the PGA TOUR Network on XM Satellite Radio, contributed this article about the legacy of Byron Nelson to PGATOUR.com.

By John Maginnes
Special to PGATOUR.com

It is hard to feel sadness at the passing of Byron Nelson on Tuesday at his home in Texas at the age of 94. When a man lives a life so rich, so long and so beautiful our sadness becomes selfish. Our sadness is for the game of golf for it is a lesser place today than it was yesterday. We can take heart in the fact that the game of golf reveres its history as much as any, though. And there are few people who have bequeathed the game of golf as much as Byron Nelson.

A legacy is far more than records and statistics. However, a conversation about Lord Byron must include at least the highlights. They are well-known -- from the 11 consecutive victories in 1945 to the consecutive cut streak of 113. The cut streak was kept alive in 1945, which was a year that included 18 total victories and seven second-place finishes in 30 tournaments. Perhaps overlooked is the fact that during that era only the top-20 players in each event were paid. So the record is actually 113 consecutive top-20 finishes, yet another one that is likely to stand forever.

Career accomplishment is merely one aspect of a legacy, though. There is a halo around those golden years of the game for good reason. Ben Hogan, Sam Snead and Nelson were the original “big three.” Their differing styles and personalities gave the game three distinct faces and forged a course for all who followed. Hogan, “the wee iceman,” played golf with a clinical precision. Slammin’ Sam Snead displayed with a grace and style the game has not seen since. And then there was Lord Byron, about whom Ken Venturi once said, “You can always argue who was the greatest player, but Byron is the finest gentleman the game has ever known.”

At no point during his 94 years did Mr. Nelson ever loose touch with the game. Perched in a leather chair above the 18th green at Los Colinas every year he greeted the players and thanked them for coming to his PGA TOUR event. Modern players considered it an honor to shake the hand of the great Byron Nelson and if they were lucky, have a few words about their day. On a personal note, I consider it one of the great fortunes of my life to have been able to make the walk from the 18th green and shake the great man’s hand, saying, “No sir, thank you for having me.”

You left the game in good hands, Mr. Nelson. You kept it in good stead for nearly a century. You have taught us humility in great achievement; you showed us grace in disappointment. Most importantly, in an ever-changing world and a game in constant motion, you typified what is most important in both. For all of us who were fortunate enough to follow, thank you.