Byron Nelson | Vijay Singh | Irving | Texas | Golf

The best thing about the EDS Byron Nelson Championship? Lord Byron (at left, circa 1946) himself is always there, hale and hearty at 92, holding court as players come off the final hole of the TPC course at the Four Seasons Resort and Club Las Colinas in Irving, Texas.

It’s only fitting; Nelson won one of the first tournaments in 1944 — then known as the Texas Victory Open — and a year later he mounted the greatest single season in golf history, with a total of 18 victories and the seemingly untouchable record of 11 consecutive wins.

Defending champion Vijay Singh had his best season last year as the Tour’s top money-winner. But this year the stakes are more lucrative, as the Nelson victor stands to walk off with a cool $1.044 million.