Texas 2-step at the Nelson?

[John_McMillan]

I've never heard a good explanation for why two courses - the TPC at Los Colinas and Cottonwood - are used for the Byron Nelson PGA tournament.  Other tournaments use multiple courses - the Hope and Crosby (as I'll always refer to them) are examples.  However, these courses also have large Pro-Am tournaments which run concurrently with the PGA event, and the multiple courses provide more holes to get more golfers through the tournament in limited daylight hours.  There is no pro-am with the Nelson, yet the tournament uses 2 courses for the first 2 rounds, before moving exclusively to the TPC course for the weekend rounds after the cut.  

[mike_beene]

Thunderstorms.This time of year we often get an afternoon storm.With a second course there is a better chance of getting the cut  done on Friday.

[John_McMillan]

Mike,

The Colonial is played at the same time of year as the Nelson, and over only one course.  Has the Colonial had a more difficult time getting 2 rounds played by Friday than the Nelson?

[mike_beene]

John,The Nelson did fine with one course for years,but Colonial is a smaller field invitational ,the club has only one course ,and they are one week closer to the dry season.Also the other Nelson course is on the same property,with the same range and general dullness.Three rounds on the TPC is plenty.It also helps spread the crowds out.Rich Beem did a classy thing today:he dressed up in the same outfit as the Salesmanship Club .These guys spend many hours and the Nelson is by far the biggest contributer to charity on tour.

[tonyt]

Not only does the Colonial have a smaller invitational field, but the Nelson has a 156 field (compared to the standard full field of 144). Only the British open has more.

[Jim_H]

It is because of the massive pro-ams on Mon., Tues., and Wed.--and therefore the need for a somewhat larager field.   And these pro-ams are why the Nelson is number one in money raised for charity of any regular tournament.