At 77, Larry Nelson, a dominant Ryder Cup player with a 9-3-1 record across three appearances, has finally received the recognition he deserved. U.S. Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley has invited Nelson to serve as a team ambassador for September’s competition at Bethpage Black, marking the first time any former player has been granted such an honor.
The announcement, made via social media by Dave Stockton Jr., elicited immediate praise. “What a class move by Captain Keegan! Larry Nelson was 9-3-1 in 3 Ryder Cups and should’ve been a Captain years ago,” Stockton Jr. wrote.
Nelson expressed deep gratitude for Bradley’s unexpected gesture. “It was truly meaningful to me,” Nelson revealed after receiving the invitation, which occurred during a PGA of America video shoot in Atlanta. Bradley personally requested Nelson’s participation.
Golf analyst Ron Mintz called the appointment “well deserved and long overdue.” Jack Nicklaus previously described Nelson as “always a very modest and humble man.” Professional golfer Shaun Micheel added, “So good to see this! Larry shared an incredible story at the Champions Dinner at Quail that generated a lot of laughter and a ton of respect.”
Nelson’s late start in golf – he didn’t touch a club until age 21 – was shaped by his military service in Vietnam. Serving as an infantryman for nearly two-and-a-half years, including walking point for his platoon during three months of intense combat, instilled in him a notable mental fortitude. His wife, Gayle, gifted him clubs as a Christmas present in 1969, and he taught himself using Ben Hogan’s instruction book, breaking 100 on his first 18-hole round before shooting under 70 within nine months.
The Vietnam experience famously forged Nelson’s “clutch gene under pressure.” He explained, “There’s not much pressure on the golf Tour, ‘Walking to the first tee is in no way comparable to walking through the jungle in combat.’” This perspective proved critical in his legendary matches, particularly against Seve Ballesteros, where he won four out of five encounters.
For decades, the captaincy controversy has haunted Nelson’s career. Despite past promises, the PGA passed him over for Lanny Wadkins in 1995, Tom Kite in 1997, and even Tom Watson in 2013. Nelson consistently handled each disappointment with grace, stating, “It’s disappointing, certainly not devastating.”
Bradley’s ambassador appointment represents a significant acknowledgment of Nelson’s contributions to American golf. The 77-year-old legend will provide wisdom and inspiration to the current team at Bethpage Black this September.