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Posted on Wed, May. 07, 2008

GOLF INSIDER

Nelson officials once again look for help in Fort Worth

By JIMMY BURCH

Star-Telegram Staff Writer

Credit the folks at the Salesmanship Club of Dallas for knowing where to turn when seeking leadership for their PGA Tour event.

About 35 miles west, to Fort Worth.

It worked wonders 40 years ago when they re-named their tournament -- the former Dallas Open -- in honor of golf legend Byron Nelson, who learned the game as a caddie at Fort Worth's Glen Garden Country Club.

Now, another man with a strong Cowtown connection is charged with leading the EDS Byron Nelson Championship into the future.

Jon Drago, Fort Worth native and Nolan Catholic High School graduate, has been selected as the Nelson tournament director.

He succeeds Janie Henderson, who retired this week after 27 years of service to the tournament. As part of his duties, Drago also will serve as tournament director of the 2008 Nationwide Tour Championship, Nov. 6-9 at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney.

But his primary gig will be the Nelson tournament, where Job No. 1 -- Lord Byron's old job -- is to boost the star power during tournament week in Irving. Drago is quick to acknowledge that, while a Fort Worth pedigree is an asset on any résumé (even in Dallas County), some pedigrees carry more weight than others. Like Nelson's.

"I'm not sure I want to compare myself to Mr. Nelson," Drago said Tuesday. "He stands alone. But I hope to be a part of continuing his legacy through this golf tournament."

That is what Salesmanship Club officials are counting on by elevating Drago from chief operating officer to tournament director of their event. Kent Skipper, Salesmanship Club chief executive officer, said Drago has the experience and local knowledge needed "to take advantage of the opportunities that lie ahead" in restoring luster to an event that landed only one top-10 golfer (Adam Scott) in its 2008 field.

Drago, 37, has more than 15 years of experience in the golf industry, the last five on Nelson tournament staffs. Previous stops include stints as a tournament manager for the PGA of America and an assistant golf professional at Ridglea Country Club (1993-94).

Like Nelson, Drago -- son of retired State District Court judge Joe Drago -- learned the game in Fort Worth. As a junior golfer, he honed his skills at Colonial Country Club. He played on three Nolan golf teams that won TAPPS state championships.

Although Drago acknowledges that he still receives "occasional, but friendly" grief from his Dallas-based bosses about his Tarrant County roots, the Mansfield resident is pretty sure he hears envy in the voices of those who are slow to embrace the wonders of the 817 area code.

"That's the way I take it," Drago said. As well he should.

In a serious vein, Drago said he looks forward to directing the fortunes of a tour event named for a legend and coming off a $10 million course overhaul that drew widespread praise from players in its April debut.

He's optimistic about seeing more star power in 2009, when the Nelson (May 21-24) and Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial (May 28-31) are projected to be played in consecutive weeks. Those dates are not final. But Drago's elevation into his dream job is set in stone.

"There's only 42 of these jobs [on the PGA Tour]," Drago said. "This is one of the things my dad and I talked about years ago, when I got my first job out of college at Ridglea. It's something I've always strived to become. To think I could do this in my own back yard makes it even more special."

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

8,390 Applicants who will attempt to qualify for the 2008 U.S. Open

1,236 Applicants who will attempt to qualify for the 2008 U.S. Women's Open

79 Age of oldest competitor in qualifying rounds for the Open (Harris Moore Jr.)

62 Age of oldest competitor in qualifying rounds for the Women's Open (Barbara Israel)

12 Age of youngest competitor in qualifying rounds for the Open (Rico Hoey)

11 Age of youngest competitor in qualifying rounds for the Women's Open (Samantha Wagner)

* * *

"Now that I won, it's a major. Absolutely."

Phil Mickelson, defending champion at The Players Championship, on the long-running debate about whether this week's PGA Tour event should be viewed as golf's "fifth major."

AREA PROS

How exempt players with Fort Worth area connections (residents or golfers from Fort Worth area high schools or colleges) are faring on the PGA, Champions, LPGA, Nationwide and Duramed Futures tours this season. Listed are the official earnings and where they rank on the money list:

PGA Tour

Rory Sabbatini, $1,103,600 (27)

Chad Campbell, $1,020,886 (32)

Ben Crane, $602,146 (70)

Tag Ridings, $220,743 (128)

Todd Hamilton, $173,981 (143)

J.J. Henry, $155,600 (152)

Stephen Leaney, $88,171 (178)

Brandt Jobe, $48,050 (197)

Mark Brooks, $17,871 (226)

Ryan Palmer, $12,295 (233)

LPGA Tour

Angela Stanford, $325,571 (7)

Heather Young, $73,483 (52)

Champions Tour

Terry Snodgrass, $928 (150)

Nationwide Tour

Greg Chalmers, $161,154 (2)

D.J. Brigman, $82,327 (14)

J.J. Killeen, $71,802 (19)

Hunter Haas, $19,900 (74)

Kelly Grunewald, $14,499 (87)

Keoke Cotner, $3,815 (152)

Ian Leggatt, $3,717 (154)

Duramed Futures Tour

Catherine Matranga, $500 (138)

CALENDAR

PGA Tour

The Players Championship

Site: Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., TPC Sawgrass,

Players Stadium Course (7,215 yards, par 72)

TV: Golf (Thursday-Friday, noon-6 p.m., 8-11 p.m.) and KXAS/5 (Saturday-Sunday, 1-6 p.m.)

Purse: $9 million

Winner's share: $1.7 million

FedEx Cup points: 27,500 Winner's share: 4,950

2007 winner: Phil Mickelson

LPGA Tour

Michelob Ultra Open

Site: Williamsburg, Va., Kingsmill Resort & Spa, River Course (6,315 yards, par 71)

TV: ESPN2 (Friday-Sunday, 1-3 p.m.)

Purse: $2.2 million

Winner's share: $330,000

2007 winner: Suzann Pettersen

European PGA Tour

Italian Open

Site: Milan, Italy, Castello di Tolcinasco Golf and Country Club (7,283 yards, par 72)

TV: Golf (Thursday-Friday, 8:30-10 a.m.;

Saturday-Sunday, 7:30-11:30 a.m.)

Purse: $2.63 million

Winner's share: $437,745

2007 winner: Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano

Nationwide Tour

Fort Smith Classic

Site: Fort Smith, Ark., Hardscrabble Country Club (6,783 yards, par 70)

Schedule: Thursday-Sunday

TV: none

Purse: $550,000

Winner's share: $99,000

2007 winner: Jay Williamson